Attendance - 249
Team - Escritt, Obern, Williams, Farthing, Linighan, Bishop, McTiernan(Campbell 88), Scaife, Ormerod, L Gildea(Robinson 78), Nicholson. Sub not used: Atkinson.
Report - by Andrew Snaith - Blyth stole a point in cruel fashion in the North East derby on Tuesday night in Northumberland. Harry Dunn's Spartans side were two-nil down inside five minutes before a first half free-kick and a soft goal seven minutes from time ruined Whitby's chances of making ground on the leading pack.
Dave Logan, 100% since taking Dunn's job, recalled defender Brian Linighan, with Craig Veart missing out. Graham Robinson returned from holiday but new signing Lee Ure was again absent.
The short trip up the A19 failed to affect the away side as much as the other visitors, as they raced into the lead within three minutes. Anthony Ormerod's pinpoint header from Dave McTiernan's cross found the net despite Steve Harrison's desperate clearence from behind the line.
If Spartans were stunned by the first goal they were positively knocked to the ground by the second. A neat interchange of passes with Ormerod, released Liam Gildea to strike home from the edge of the Spartans box, giving Craig Turns no chance.
The remainder of the half saw Whitby on top, however Blyth worked their way back into this fiery derby clash nine minutes before half-time, Linighan's foul enabled Ian Crutwell to hammer home a 25 yard free-kick which took a slight deflection on it's way past the unsighted Ben Escritt.
The second half saw Harry Dunn's men have more of the play, though the Yorkshiremen always looked dangerous. However, it wasn't Blyth's back four that troubled the Blues, but the hapless officials. Referee Mr Nicholson let not so much a stream but a tidal wave of dangerous studs-up jumping challenges go without so much as a telling off for the offender. The linesman patrolling the Blyth half was even worse, consistently behind the play despite or perhaps because of his curious sideways crab-like walk.
Blyth's Andy Leeson was finally booked for blatantly handling the ball into the Whitby net. Five minutes later, Ormerod's brilliantly curled ball forward released Gildea, who drove wide from a tough angle. At the other end, Spartans had their best chance of the night when Steve Preen's low goalbound drive was turn wide at full stretch with his foot by Escritt. Robinson replaced fellow forward Gildea with 12 minutes left. However, it was Blyth's strikeforce who remained in the ascendancy and they grabbed a somewhat fortunate second goal minutes later.
Skipper Graham Williams and Escritt collided going for an innocous long ball, enabling sub Martin Peace to nip in and walk the loose ball into the empty net. Possibly deserved considering the way Whitby sat back and Spartans had most of the play late on, but considering an excellent first half display and the reluctance of the officials to clamp down on some questionable challenges particularly from the home side, Dave Logan and his side will have felt gutted not to have extended their 100% record under the new regime. Defeat for Leek, and draws for Hyde and Workington keep the Blues in contention in fourth, now just four points from second-place.
