Report | Blyth Spartans 2-0 Seaham Red Star | Friendly

By Stephen Burton

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA

Chartered Management Accountant

Mid-season friendly

Tuesday, 18^th January 2022

BLYTH SPARTANS 2-0 SEAHAM RED STAR

Goals from Corey McKeown and Rhys Evans helped Blyth Spartans to a comfortable friendly win over Seaham Red Star at Croft Park.

Blyth took the lead through McKeown on 17 minutes, before Evans sealed the win five minutes from time.

Boss Terry Mitchell named a rotated squad, featuring a first a appearance in a Spartans shirt for on-loan Sunderland defender Patrick Almond.

After a quiet opening period, it was Blyth who had the first clear effort at goal as Corey McKeown curled a shot off the underside of the bar.

Blyth continued to press and just a couple of minutes later Almond almost introduced himself in spectacular fashion as he ran from the back and weaved his way through the Seaham defence before his low drive was well saved by Andrew Jennison.

The hosts soon got the breakthrough their play deserved after excellent work from Sado Djalo to chase down a long ball, the striker squared to McKeown who fired into the bottom corner.

Seaham grew into the game as the half went on, but while they struggled to create anything clear-cut they did test Blyth's new-look backline with some dangerous set-pieces.

Just before the break, the woodwork once more denied Spartans a brilliant goal. This time it was Cameron Painter as his 25 yard effort clattered off the bar.

Blyth started the second-half well, but were almost pegged back five minutes in as Liam Heywood found space inside the box and unleashed a fierce effort narrowly wide.

Just before the hour-mark the ball broke to Djalo on the edge of the box, but his well-struck volley forced a smart save from Jennison.

A few moments later Karl Byrne drove at the opposition defence and did brilliantly to get the ball to the byline and fired in a low cross that somehow evaded Djalo.

In typical friendly fashion, the hour mark also meant a raft of substitutions, as both managers looked to give their players minutes.

As a result, the game became more scrappy, however Seaham almost found a breakthrough after a mix-up in midfield, but the quick break was well cleared by Almond with the striker lurking,

The resultant corner saw a great chance fall to Max Nelson, but the centre-half could only fire over from six yards.

Blyth managed to get get their second with five minutes left as Evans fired in JJ O'Donnell's low cross to seal the win.

Spartans return to competitive action on Saturday as they travel to Alfreton in National League North.

Blyth Spartans | Curran, Lees, Cunningham, Almond, Byrne, Watson, Reid, Painter, McKeown, McNall, Djalo Subs | Thomson, Maguire, Evans, Hickey, Dale, O'Donnell, Deverdics

Goals | McKeown (17'), Evans (85')

Seaham Red Star | Jennison, Baggs, Donnelly, Heywood, Nelson, Patterson, N. Robinson, McLeod, Lennox. Bott, Kerridge Subs | Hodgson, Anderson, J. Robinson, Williams, Patton