A goal in each half knocked The Lions out of the Emirates FA Cup at Blyth Spartans’ Croft Park home this afternoon, writes Adam Bridson.
A Lewis McNall double in Northumberland ended Danny Ellis’ hopes of another Emirates FA Cup run for the club when the Vanarama National League North opposition showed their pedigree with a comfortable win.
In a drab first half with no chances or attacks from The Lions Blyth spurned a couple of good openings but it didn’t prove costly.
It was the number 9 McNall with the first big chance when he headed a cross wide with the goal gaping, he had another opening ten minutes later too but once again he couldn’t get his header on target.
Four minutes before the break McNall did get on the scoresheet though, his cross was floated into the box and attacked by Michael Richardson but nobody got a touch on it and it ended up in the corner beating a stranded Kyle Trenerry.
The game came to life in the second half but it was the hosts once again who were creating the best chances early on.
They thought they had a second when Matthew Elsdon headed home from a corner but the referee ruled the goal out for a foul.
A few seconds later though Blyth were on the attack again and JJ O’Donnell flicked a cross over the bar with his head.
It took until the 65th minute for The Lions’ first meaningful attack and shot of the game. A deep cross found the head of Ethen Vaughan which Alex Mitchell reacted well to stop. From the resulting corner Danny Ellis, who was making his first competitive Lions start in 2707 days since a trip to North Ferriby on 21st April 2015, headed goalwards but Nicky Deverdics did well to clear it off of the line, the clearance fell to James Cadman who shot goalwards but Jameel Ible deflected it over from close range.
It wasn’t a sign of things to come though for Ellis’ men as it was Blyth who nearly doubled their lead three minutes later when Jordan Hickey crashed a shot off of the crossbar from 25 yards out.
With 15 minutes left McNall ended the contest with a well taken finish when he curled a shot into the top corner for his and Blyth’s second of the game.
It was a positive afternoon for Foley Nkem with the academy midfielder making his senior debut with 10 minutes left coming on for Ellis.
There was still time for two big chances for sub Adam Haw, the first came from Cadman’s persistence when he kept the ball in play and picked out the striker but he headed just over the bar. Then with two minutes left on the clock captain George Smith powered a shot goalwards which Haw connected with but he couldn’t get his effort on target.
It was the final chance of a game which will not live long in the memory of the 584 who were in attendance.
The Lions are back at Nethermoor on Tuesday night in a return to Pitching In Northern Premier League Premier Division action against Matlock Town in a 7:45pm kick-off.
Blyth Spartans 2-0 Guiseley | Saturday 17th September 2022 | Croft Park
Attendance: 584
Team: 1. Kyle Trenerry, 2. Jorge Sikora, 3. George Smith (C), 4. Ethen Vaughan, 5. Danny Ellis (80′ Nkem), 6. Jameel Ible, 7. John Johnston (61′ Chimalilo), 8. Ethan Cartwright, 9. Jake Cassidy, 10. James Cadman and 11. Nat Crofts (72′ Haw).
Subs: 12. Adam Haw, 13. Hagie Damba, 14. Lewis Hey, 15. Donald Chimalilo, 16. Eddy Prata, and 17. Foley Nkem.
