Report | Leamington FC 1-0 Blyth Spartans | National League North | 21/22

BY Liam O'Brien

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA

Chartered Management Accountant

Vanarama National League North

Saturday, January 29th 2022

LEAMINGTON FC 1-0 BLYTH SPARTANS

Spartans suffered a narrow defeat away to Leamington due to a late goal from second half substitute, Jack Edwards.

Jack Edwards got the only goal of the game in the 82nd minute when he manage to get his header on the end of an in-swinging corner.

In the opening stages of the game, neither side was able to carve out any clear cut chances despite it being fairly end to end.

Leamington got a good chance in the 8th minute when Steph Morley decided to go for an effort from a free-kick that looked too far out for a shot but went for one anyway. It went narrowly over the bar.

In the 12th minute, Toby Lees made a great challenge to deny English from getting a shot at goal inside the box.

Spartans managed to get more into the game with some great passing football ending with Michael Liddle getting the ball out wide on the left to then whip into the box but he was unable to find a player and Weaver was able to collect it.

In the 17th minute, JJ O'Donnell found himself in space outside the box and went for a left footed effort at goal that went wide.

Leamington started to put pressure on the Spartans goal with Morley sending a cross into the box that was headed away by Reid before a shot came in that Almond was able to block and get cleared.

In the 31st minute, Dan Turner managed to get on the end of a cross but his close range effort was straight at Alex Mitchell.

Spartans got a good chance in the 36th minute when Robbie Dale whipped in an in-swinging free-kick from wide on the left that was just in front of O'Donnell, who was unable to make contact with it.

In the 42nd minute, Turner charged into the box from out wide on the right and went for an effort at the near post that was denied by a great save from Mitchell.

Blyth got the last chance of the first half when the ball arrived at the feet of Patrick Almond on the outside the box with his effort at goal going narrowly over the bar.

Spartans started strong at the start of the second half with Connor Thomson having a lashed effort at goal that deflected and nearly fooled Weaver who just managed to tip it over.

In the 53rd minute, Nicky Deverdics sent a corner into the box and it nearly found Lees at the back post but he was just unable to get enough contact on it.

Blyth got another chance in the 58th minute when some great footwork from O'Donnell allowed him to get past the defender in front of him and opened up space for a shot but his effort was deflected and comfortably saved by Weaver.

Leamington went close in the 64th minute when Edward had an headed effort from a corner that headed off the line by Sean Reid and Deverdics was able to hoof it away from danger.

In the 76th minute, Dale whipped in a dangerous corner across the face of goal but was cleared away by Leamington for another corner but nothing came from the resulting corner.

Leamington took the lead in the 82nd minute when Edwards was able to get his head on the end of a corner.

Spartans pushed for an equaliser in stoppage time and won a free-kick out wide on the right. It was whipped into a dangerous area but Weaver was able to collect it and the game ended in defeat for Blyth.

Leamington FC XI: Weaver, Meredith, Morley, Wilding (Gittings, 71), Morrison (c), Lane, Parker (Mooney, 79), Walker, Turner, English (Edwards, 63), Kelly Evans

Subs not used: Barkers, Mace

Scorers: Edwards (82)

Blyth Spartans XI: Mitchell, Evans, Liddle, Reid (Djalo, 84), Hickey (Maguire, 66), O'Donnell (c), Dale, Deverdics, Lees, Thomson (McNall, 74), Almond

Subs not used: McKeown, Painter

Referee: Ross Martin

Attendance: 635