Report | Blyth snatch late equaliser against Farsley

BY Aaron Hindhaugh

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA

Chartered Management Accountant

Vanarama National League North

Tuesday, November 10th 2020

Blyth Spartans snatched a point in injury time when Paul Blackett beat the keeper to the ball and finished into an open net.

It could've been all three points for Spartans as Michael Cain saw his 95th-minute free-kick come back off the bar.

Ashley Smith-Brown found the bottom corner on the half volley after 28 minutes for Farsley.

Blackett then snatched a late equaliser for Spartans as he finished into an open net in the 92nd minute.

Michael Nelson made one change from the 3-0 win at Curzon Ashton - Kieran Charlton replaced the injured Kris Thackray.

Farsley saw a looping header hit off the top of the bar before Tyler Walton's acrobatic effort was held well by Brad Young from a few yards out.

A lack-lustre opening 25 minutes saw neither side able to carve open an opening with defences firmly on top, leaving the strikers for both sides frustrated.

After a half clearance to the corner of the box, Smith-Brown let fly a half volley which arrowed into the far corner leaving Brad Young with no chance.

Blackett's blistering pace almost got Blyth back in the game as he nipped in ahead Steven Drench but had to take his effort on the half-turn 12-yards out and saw it curl agonisingly wide.

Straight up the other end, Will Hayhurst collected a knockdown from a long ball into the box and smashed an effort narrowly wide of Young's far post from just 18-yards out.

Young denied Smith-Brown from five-yards as it seemed like the wing-back would double his tally for the evening but Blyth's stopper made a magnificent stop with his feet.

Blackett got in-behind the Farsley defence with just the keeper to beat and he did so but was denied by the post and could only watch his effort roll across the line and cleared behind for a corner on the stroke of half time.

A bright start to the second-half for Blyth saw Connor Thomson latch onto a beautiful through ball by Callum Guy and poked it past keeper but his second touch was too heavy and Drench got back to collect the ball.

Farsley wasted a chance to extend their lead when Tom Allen won a header at the near post which found James Spencer unmarked at the back post but sliced his volley well over from four yards out.

Matthew Elsdon met Cain's corner from the penalty spot and seemed destined for the bottom corner but was cleared off the line as Spartans continued to knock on the door.

Blyth began to put Farsley under a lot of pressure in the second-half and it almost paid off as Thomson cut in from the left before firing a ferocious effort agonisingly wide of the top corner.

Blackett latched onto a through ball and got to the ball before Drench and poked the ball beyond the keeper before dispatching from 15-yards into an open net to send the Blyth players and bench into pandemonium.

Luke Parkin had an open goal in the 94th minute as a low cross came across the box but completely missed the ball at the back post.

Blyth almost took all three points as Cain stepped up to take a free-kick on the edge of the area, the keeper was nowhere near the shot and could only watch on as it crashed back out off the bar.

Blyth: Young, Sakellaropoulos, Charlton (McKeown, 53), Elsdon, Cunningham, Cain, Thomson, Heslop (Dart, 90), Blackett, Gbolahan (Griffiths, 45), Guy. Subs not used: Russell, Taylor.

Goal: Blackett (90+1)

Farsley: Drench, Richards, Smith-Brown (Atkinson, 74), Atkinson, Allan, Clayton, Johnston, Walton (Charles, 52), Spencer (Parkin, 85), Syers, Hayhurst. Subs not used: Parkin, Lane.

Goal: Smith-Brown (28)

Referee: Jonny Urwin

Attendance: Behind closed doors