Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

BLYTH SPARTENS 0 - 3 DROYLSDEN

Nationwide North, Saturday 16th September 2006

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods recorded a hugely impressive victory over table-toppers Blyth, who were made to look anything like league leaders on their own patch. Indeed, it was Droylsden who had the look of championship contenders rather than the Northumbrians.

Two own goals from home defender Richard Forster and a strike from man-of-the-match Steve Jagielka separated the teams, but in between Paul Phillips pulled off a crucial penalty save from Robert Dale as the score stood at just 1-0. The only tarnish on an otherwise perfect day was a nasty-looking leg injury to Steve Halford, which required him to be stretchered off the pitch.

Proceedings commenced with an impeccably observed minute's silence in honour of Matt Gadsby, and then the two sides began to do battle.

The first chance fell to Blyth's Chris McCabe on four minutes, but he sliced his shot wide as the Bloods failed to deal with a long throw-in.

Droylsden then began to create, and spurn, a host of chances. Chris Denham twice went close, and Terry Fearns shot first time when he perhaps might have taken another touch.

Blyth came back, though, and another long throw found Dale at the far post, but his looping header over Phillips was hooked off the line by Carl Ruffer.

Steve Jagielka's crisp effort flew a yard wide before Daniel Waner set-up Fearns, who was unlucky to see his curled effort come back off the crossbar. The ball fell back to Warner, but home skipper Peter Snowdon cleared off the line.

Denham again went close and a Gareth Morris effort lacked sufficient power to trouble Adam Bartlett, but on 33 minutes Droylsden's pressure finally told. Fearns found strike partner Steve Daly, who steered the ball towards goal. Spartans defender Forster looked favourite to clear before the ball crossed the line, but he could only slice the ball into his own net.

Denham managed two further efforts before the break, but Blyth also had their chances through a Scott Bell free kick and the same man was denied by a fine save from Phillips after he had outstripped Ruffer.

Given all of their efforts, one wondered if the Bloods' slender lead would be sufficient at the turn around, but it was the visitors who continued to ask questions of the league leaders. Morris was a yard over with a free kick and then Craig Robinson just failed to turn his header goalwards from a Fearns cross.

Mid-way through the second half, though, Blyth hit a purple patch and looked like drawing level. Bell let fly from fully 20 yards, but his bullet of a shot was met with a save of the highest quality from Phillips, flying to his right to palm the ball over the bar.

Phillips then saved from Dale before Alex Gildea's effort curled wide of the mark. Bell again threatened, but could only shoot straight at Phillips from a narrow angle, and then McCabe failed to get sufficient height to his volley and Phillips collected.

It seemed that the home side's pressure would be rewarded on 77 minutes when Dale went around Robinson in the box, but was tripped. Mr Joyce pointed to the spot, but Phillips brilliantly turned away Dale's spot kick.

This gave the Bloods a lift, and Morris had Bartlett back-peddling to tip over a long range speculative effort, but with eight minutes remaining, Jagielka sealed the points after receiving Jody Banim's through ball and shooting low, with the ball going in off Bartlett's palm and the foot of the post.

In added time, the Bloods gave the scoreline further gloss when the unfortunate Forster could only turn Kevin Lynch's low cross past his own keeper with Fearns waiting to pounce.

Rather sportingly, the sizeable home support warmly applauded the Bloods off the pitch having recognised a good performance from Dave Pace's charges.

BLYTH SP.: Bartlett, Christensen, Gildea A., Snowdon, Forster, Leeson, Hedley, Fenton, Dale, Bell, McCabe.

SUBS: Gildea L. (not used), Price (not used), Catto (for Hedley, 76), Graham (for Fenton, 46), Hanlon (not used).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips 8, Halford 7, Warner 8, Robinson 8, Ruffer 7, Morris 7, Tandy 7, JAGIELKA 9, Fearns 6, Daly 6, Denham 7.

SUBS: Banim 8 (for Daly, 73), Williams 7 (for Halford, 52), Burke (not used), Rapley (not used), Lynch 7 (for Tandy, 68).

ATTENDANCE: 872

REFEREE: Mr. R. Joyce