FC United triumph at Blyth Spartans

FC United recorded their second win in a row with a 2-1 victory against Blyth Spartans on Saturday afternoon thanks to goals from Dean Stott and Michael Norton.

It was Blyth who looked dangerous from the kick off and on two minutes could have taken the lead when a cross from the left just eluded the head of Lee Mason, who was a thorn in the FC side all game.

The FC defence seemed to be having trouble coming to terms with the heavy pitch and the pacey Blyth attack and it was no surprise when the home side took the lead on six minutes when a ball through the defence found Phil Airey totally on his own and onside. He collected the ball, drew James Spencer and slotted the ball into the bottom of the net.

The goal seemed to galvanise The Reds and they equalised just seven minutes later when a corner from the right was flicked on by Adam Jones. The ball eventually dropped to his central defensive partner Dean Stott who drove the ball into the goal.

Almost straight from the restart, FC could have taken the lead when a mix up in the home defence let in Mike Norton. Conor Grant in the goal cleared from the edge of the box but his clearance only found Matthew Tierney on halfway who fired the ball towards goal. It didn’t have the legs to reach the net but dropped for Norton who seemed in two minds whether to head the ball, hit it first time or bring it under control. In the end the ball ended up going for a goal kick.

The game was swinging end-to-end with Mason looking a huge danger on the Spartans right but it was FC who continued to have the clearer chances, a long shot was helped on by Matthew Wolfenden but the ball fell straight to Grant. The keeper was in the game again on 28 minutes when a cross was headed by Norton, Grant tipping the ball over.

A minute later, Airey came close to his second goal of the game but he volleyed the ball over. Just after the half hour, Jerome Wright dribbled his way into the box and shot but again Grant saved well.

From the corner Blyth broke with Airey providing the speed, his cross was met by Joe Kendrick who couldn’t get a clean shot at goal but it was good enough to force a save from Spencer.

Norton was again close to scoring when he chested the ball and volleyed it towards goal but it was straight at Grant.

On half-time both goals led charmed lives, when Tierney saw a shot deflected goalwards, Grant scrambling it away. At the other end Daniel Maguire dribbled down the left wing and fed Robert Dale who saw his shot beat Spencer but rattle the crossbar and be cleared. There was also time for Spencer to make a smart double save in first half injury time.

After the breathless end-to-end first half you might expect both sides to take a breather but Blyth again started the half stronger with Dale heading a cross wide and a cross causing panic in the FC box when Spencer dropped the ball but it was cleared.

On 50 minutes, FC took the lead when a great ball from Cedric Krou, who came on in the first half thanks to a horrific looking facial injury to Nicky Platt, fed Wolfenden on the right. His cross was met emphatically by Norton on the volley which gave Grant no chance of saving.

Three minutes later Airey broke well but his shot was straight at Spencer.
As expected the tempo of the game dropped, Mason was still proving a threat on them Blyth right but the clear chances seemed to dry up at either end.

The win was certainly well earned by FC, there were great chances at either end, especially in the breathless first half.

Steven Wood

Website Man of the Match: Dean Stott. After a sticky start for FC there were a few players who could have taken this week’s award, but Stott was cool under the home side’s pressure and of course scored the important equalising goal.

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