Blyth Spartans 1 Corby Town 2 (Match Report)

Attendance 458
Blyth Spartans

Mark Bell, Stephen Harrison, John Brackstone, Michael Tait, Gareth Williams, Darren Cradock, Adrian Webster, Stephen Turnbull, Josh Gillies, Ian Graham (sub John Alexander 65 mins), Robert Dale
Subs not used - Simon Todd, Kenny Boyle, Shaun Reay, Jack Norton

Corby Town

Mark Osborn, Phillip Watt, Anthony Jaszczun (sub Stephen Diggin 58 mins), Philip Gulliver, Chris Hope, Gavin Strachan, John Turner, Stephen Towers, Jack Defty (sub 40 mins), Leon Mattam (sub Mark Stallard 75 mins), Paul Mayo
Subs not used - David Deeney, Brett Solkhon.

Spartans paid the price for not taken there many chances to kill off table toppers Corby Town at Croft Park.

Once again, Blyth failed to make their chances count.

Josh Gillies headed an Adrian Webster cross narrowly over and then Webster saw his long-range effort fumbled by Corby goalkeeper Mark Osborn only for Philip Gulliver to clear.

It was no surprise when the home side went ahead on 20 minutes. Stephen Turnbull released Webster behind the visitors' defence and when he crossed into the penalty area, Gillies struck home.

Before the interval Corby levelled with a penalty awarded when John Brackstone was adjudged to have brought down Leon Mattam, who converted the spot-kick.

Either side of half-time, Spartans' captain Gareth Williams had efforts turned over the crossbar by Osborn.

Spartans should have led again when Rob Dale released Gillies into the visitors penalty area, he decided to pull the ball back to Graham who dallied on the ball the visitors managed to clear the ball and following Ian Graham's miss, Blyth paid the penalty as Mark Stallard headed in a Gavin Strachen's left sided corner.