Evo Stik Premier Division
Blyth Spartans 2-3 Frickley Athletic
Brad Grayson (right) continued his great form for Frickley Athletic. Picture: Peter Revitt
A terrific performance from ten man Frickley Athletic saw them overcome Evo-Stik Premier Division leaders Blyth Spartans at Croft Park.
Two superb finishes from Brad Grayson put the Blues in command before the hosts pulled a goal back through Robbie Dale from the penalty spot on the hour mark as Tom Davie was sent off. Jacob Hazel’s persistence restored the Blues two goal cushion before another Dale penalty set up a nervy last few minutes but the Blues held on to record a richly deserved victory.
Manager Karl Rose made one change to the side with the unavailable Simon Lenighan being replaced in midfield with the fit again Ross Armstrong. On loan Bailey Gooda continued alongside John Cyrus in central defence as Jameel Ible served the last of his four-match suspension.
Blyth threatened in the opening minutes with Wilson Kneeshaw finding space on the left of the box before seeing Sebastian Malkowski comfortably deal with his shot.
The Blues soon settled and started to force the pace with good work from Jacob Hazel seeing the striker turn and fire into the side netting from six yards on 11 minutes.
Seven minutes later Hazel was involved again as he collected a pass from Tyler Williams on the left before picking out Grayson with a great cross-field pass. In plenty of space just outside the box, Grayson controlled the ball before brilliantly lifting the ball over the advancing Adam McHugh and into the net to give the Blues the lead.
Luke Hinsley and Williams both shot narrowly over the bar in the quick succession in the 25th minute before a great block from Gooda denied Matthew Wade as he fired in a shot from outside the box in the 37th minute.
Within a minute the Blues had doubled their lead with Grayson again the scorer. Hinsley played a fine ball down the left for Grayson who beat Alex Nicholson for speed before steering a delightful left footed lob over McHugh and just under the bar from the left hand edge of the box.
Four minutes later Williams cut in from the left before shooting narrowly wide of the near post from just inside the box.
Blyth started the second half positively but without really troubling Malkowski’s goal whilst the Blues were still looking a threat on the break.
Spartans’ substitute Arran Wearmouth had an angled shot deflected wide of the right hand post on 54 minutes before the Blues were reduced to ten men on 59 minutes when Davie was adjudged to have handled a through-ball inside the box and received his marching orders with Robbie Dale despatching the resulting penalty with ease.
However, on 65 minutes the Blues restored their two-goal advantage. Hazel chased down a routine back pass to goalkeeper McHugh who let the ball squirm past him and as he recovered to try and clear the ball off the line Hazel charged the clearance into the net.
Five minutes later the Blues ought to have wrapped the game up when Williams burst away down the left, cut into the box and drew McHugh before shooting inches wide of the far post when he had Hazel in support.
With six minutes to play a neat one-two inside the Blues’ box saw Nicholson in the clear but Malkowski was out quickly to block his shot from close range. Sixty seconds later Blyth were awarded a second penalty when Sam Akeroyd brought down Kneeshaw inside the box with a mistimed tackle and again Dale confidently dispatched the penalty to set up a nervous last five minutes plus stoppage time but the Blues kept Blyth at bay to complete a deserved win.
Frickley Athletic: Malkowski, Tom Davie, Jeff, Hinsley, Cyrus, Gooda, Akeroyd, Armstrong, Hazel (Wood 90), Grayson, Williams. Subs unused: Ellam, Stratford, Rose, Hood.
Referee: Mr. S. Sugden
Attendance: 613
Thanks to Steve Pennock for this report.