SATURDAY 16th FEBRUARY 2008

VAUXHALL MOTORS 2 v 2 BLYTH SPARTANS

BLUE SQUARE NORTH

Andy Mutch’s Vauxhall Motors had to settle for a point in this all-action Blue Square North encounter despite having given a much-improved display and having dominated the first half, as Blyth twice fought back from going behind.

After a bright start to the proceedings, the Motormen opening the scoring after just ten minutes, when Peter Heler, latching on to Tom Field’s pass, cut in from the left to rifle a superb right-footed shot into the far top corner, giving Adam Bartlett in the visitors goal no chance.  And they might well have added to that strike as they laid siege on the visitors goal, only to have a number of decent strikes on goal blocked. 

They were then rocked back on their heels on 35 minutes, when Andy Johnson burst through the middle between the central defenders to level the scores, from a perfect through ball.

But the hosts did go on at the break deservedly ahead, when in first half injury time Paul Taylor stuck a fantastic first time drive from the inside left edge of the area. Again right-footed and again into the far side of the net.  Spartans though turned the tables after the interval and when substitute Adrian Webster joined the fray on the hour, their challenge gained momentum, with Gareth Williams going very close, before Chris McCabe equalised on 76 minutes, converting Johnson’s low cross from the right at the near post.

It was no more than Blyth deserved, but either side might have won the game in the final frantic ten minutes, as both Blyth’s Alex Gildea and  then Motors’ Mark Reed each struck fierce drives against the bar, whilst the latter also wasted a good chance went put through on the left, only to drag his shot wide of the far upright.

Vauxhall: Rigby, Williams, Dames, Field, Holmes, Robinson, Heler, Griffiths  Reed, Smith, Taylor.  Sub not used: Roberts, Murphy, Hitchen, Owens.