Gloucester City 3 Blyth Spartans 1 (Match Report)

Saturday 19th September 2009
Attendance - 303
Gloucester City

Mike Green, James Baldwin, Lee Marshall, Marc Richards, Tom Hamblin, Matt Rose, Lee Smith, Tom Webb, Will Morford, Mike Symons (sub Luke Ballinger 64 mins), Jack Harris.
Subs Not Used - Alex Sykes, Jack Pitcher, James Palmer, Adie Harris

Blyth Spartans

Craig Turns, Stephen Harrison, Kenny Boyle, Michael Tait, Gareth Williams, Darren Craddock, Josh Gillies, Stephen Turnbull, Paul Brayson, Ian Graham (sub John Alexander 77 mins), Rob Dale (sub Simon Todd 77 mins).
Subs Not Used -John Brackstone

Spartans returned from the South West empty handed after their host won their first home game at the 6th attempt.

Spartans paid the prize for some wayward finishing in the first half and then a mad 10 minutes in the middle of the second meant they made the long journey home empty handed.

But it could have been a much different score, Paul Brayson shot into the side netting after only 2 minutes after Stephen Harrison released the striker. Then Ian Graham elected to try to go around keeper Mike Green instead of shooting only to see the keeper save well at his feet.

Then on 7 minutes Turnbull picked out Rob Dale on the left side of the City penalty area, Dale's first effort was only parried by Green in the home goal, but Dale followed the ball and turned it home.

On the quarter hour, the home side equalised. Lee Smith centring the ball inside the penalty area for Mike Symons to test Craig Turns only for the Spartans keeper parried out to Will Morford to slot home into an empty net.

Brayson blast over a free kick at the start of the second half.

The home went into the led on the hour. Darren Craddock tripping Symons in the area. Lee Smith converting the penalty.

10 minutes later Smith released Morford who out paced Kenny Boyle, before slotting home under the advancing Turns.

After the double substitution Josh Gillies hit the cross bar and then Brayson saw his header saved on the line by Green.