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

BLYTH SPARTANS 0 – 2 DROYLSDEN

Blue Square North – Thursday 9 April 2009

Report by Gary Owen

This was a much-improved Bloods' performance following the defeat at Southport earlier in the week, and in truth the margin of error could, and should, have been much greater.

Indeed, with the slenderest of leads, it would have been fairly typical of Droylsden's season to have conceded a late equaliser.

However, Tony Gray settled any nerves 8 minutes from time, to add to his earlier strike in the first half.

It was all Droylsden from start to finish, with Jake Speight registering the first effort, but it lack sufficient power to trouble Mark Bell.

Bell then made a superb point-blank save from Steve Halford as he thought he had converted Sean Newton's free kick at the far post.

Jamie McGuire saw two efforts go off target before Gray rose to glance Liam Brownhill's cross in off the far post on 30 minutes.

Brownhill himself then shot straight at Bell before Matthew Tipton headed over from a central position from Gray's knock back.

Adrian Webster had snap shot fly too high in a rare attack from Spartans before Tipton shot wide and McGuire's effort was gathered in by Bell.

The one-way traffic continued after the break with Neil Sorvel volleying straight at Bell, and then the Spartans' custodian tipped over a curling effort from Gray.

John Brackstone was just off target from a free kick for Blyth, but the action was soon at the other end with Bell turning away a Speight shot after he had out-muscled Gareth Williams.

Somehow, Halford then found himself in the centre forward position, but his left-footed effort didn't trouble Bell, who again rescued Blyth from Gray's shot after a good run by Tipton.

The attacks continued and Sorvel picked-out Speight unmarked at the far post, but he blazed over, and Gray then saw his shot go agonisingly inches wide of the upright.

All of those missed opportunities were almost punished on 73 minutes, but Brackstone just failed to connect with a near post header.

A Speight shot went inches wide and Gray had a shot blocked on the line, but moments later he exchanged passes with Speight to slot under Bell to make it 2-0.

Gray still managed to find the side netting from a free kick in the dying moments, as The Bloods ran out comfortable winners, with many home fans saying that Dave Pace's men were the best side to visit Croft Park this season.

TEAMS:

Blyth Spartans

Bell, Leeson, Brackstone, Williams, Pell, Gildea (Dale, 61'), Webster, McCabe (Brown, 81'), Walton, Shandran, Reay.

Unused Subs.: Boyle, Todd, Farman.

Droylsden

Mawson, Brownhill, Newton, Halford, Ruffer, Sorvel, Pickford, McGuire, Gray, Speight (Fitzpatrick, 83'), Tipton (Lamb, 67').

Unused Subs: Cryan, Beck, Morris.

Referee: Mr. Greenwood (Yorkshire)

ATTENDANCE: 512