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Saturday 29th March - Frickley Athletic 1-0 Blyth Spartans

The Blues finally moved out of the bottom three as Adam Russell came off the bench to score the winner six minutes from time. Phil Sharpe made a couple of changes to the side with Chris Gowen replacing Kieran O'Brien at left wing-back whilst Gary Hatto started on the left of midfield. Phil Lindley had to be content with a place on the bench after missing the game at Bradford last Monday.

The first half hour of the game was largely devoid of goalmouth action, with very little enterprising play on show. The Blues seemed nercous and more intent on stopping Blyth scoring then scoring themselves. The nearest there came to excitement in the opening half hour was after 16 minutes when Mark Samways punched clear off the head of Scott Emerson whilst 3 minutes later Blyth's 'keeper Phil Naisbett was alert to collect a through ball fractionally before Lee Morris could get there. As half time neared Blyth started to threaten more with Steven Stewart flashing a header just wide of Samways' right hand post following a debatable free-kick on the Blyth right. Four minutes later Antony Jackson had a let-off when he miss-kicked on the edge of his own box, with the ball falling kindly to Emerson but the striker scooped his 20 yard shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. A minute later the Blues had a let-off when a deep free-kick was headed against the bar and Emerson followed up to ran the ball in from 2 yards but the goal was disallowed for offside. Just before half time Emerson went close again when he turned and shot inches wide from 18 yards.

The Blues started the second half more positively and had a half-chance to take the lead on 55 minutes when Morris' ball in from the left found Hatto 6 yards out but he couldn't get enough on the ball to trouble Naisbett. Three minutes later Hatto's poor corner was returned to him and this time his cross was much better, with Jackson getting in a header which Naisbett was well positioned for to catch on the line. Blyth then replaced Gareth Williams with Raymond Botth whilst the Blues replaced Curtis Bernard with Adam Russell. Blyth went close on 67 minutes when Andy martin got on the end of a deep free-kick from their left but his header went wide of the right hand post. Phil Lindley then replaced Gary Reece with Duncan Richards dropping back into the right side of the defence. Morris was inches away from scoring a great goal on 75 minutes when Hatto picked him out with a great ball which he pushed past a defender before lobbing Naisbett from 30 yards but the ball hit the side netting. John Hutton then went close for the visitors as his low shot went just wide of the right hand post but the Blues made the breakthrough on 84 minutes. Lindley did well down the right before crossing to the unmarked RUSSELL whose header from 6 yards hit the underside of the bar and bounced down before eventually being knocked clearly over the line by Naisbett as he tried in vain to keep the ball out. However, the assistant referee had already signalled the ball had crossed the line which saved Naisbett from being credited with an own goal. Just minutes later Emerson jumped in at Mark Hancock on half way, catching him with his elbow and received his marching orders. Right on full time Stewart went close to snatching an equaliser when he volleyed over the bar from 15 yards following a good run down the left by Hutton, but the Blues held on for a vital three points.

Frickley Athletic : Samways, Reece (Lindley 68), Gowen, Woolford, Jackson, Marquis, Hancock, Richards, Morris, Bernard (Russell 63), Hatto. Unused sub. Daly 

Blyth Spartans : Naisbett, Morton, Martin, Hutton, Forster, Dixon, Little, Perry, Emerson, Williams (Booth 59), Stewart. Unused subs. Ord & Rutter.

Attendance : 212

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