Finally, finally City laid to rest our new season home jinx at
the sixth time of asking at the expense of a fragile looking Blyth
side who faced a miserable long trip back to the North-East. City's
attack made the most of the extra space they were allowed from
the visitors, and despite riding our luck at time we were well
worth a long-awaited home win. The only blot on an otherwise morale
lifting display came with the sight of invaluable forward target
man Mike Symons being carried off with an apparently serious ankle
injury early in the second half.
City had Mike Green to thank for the match not getting off to
a bad start, making a brave early save at the feet of Ian Graham
as the Blyth striker found himself clean through on goal with
the City defence evaporating. That should have served as a warning,
but Spartans still grabbed an early lead a few minutes later.
Our defensive concetration is still our achilles heel, and Hamblin
gifted the ball straight to Spartans' danger man Robbie Dale on
the edge of the area. His first effort was blocked by Green again,
but the stranded keeper couldn't stop the second effort.
At least we'd made the mistake early, and had plenty of time
to come back. The Spartans defence looked a little frail and they
quickly found they couldn't manage Symons either in the air of
if they gave him a chance to turn and run. His charge down the
right flank looked to have run out of space but he managed to
cut the ball back low across the penalty area. Smith reached it
at the near post where his flick was only parried by the keeper,
falling across an open goal towards Morf. The City striker has
been a little low on confidence in front of goal, but he had time
to take several touches and ponderously complete the tap in for
his first of the campaign.
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T-Ender Match Snaps
 |
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| Lee Smith gets a run at Spartans' Darren
Craddock. |
Blyth keeper Turns just takes a cross away
from Rico's path. |
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| Jack Harris hangs in the air but his header
flies wide. |
Morf and Pitch share a Spartans moment after
the third goal. |
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Bookings:
Dismissals:
none
T-Ender City MotM: Tom
Webb - captain's performance from the new skipper, given planty
of space to drive City forward from midfield. 