Blyth edged out Grantham by the odd goal in five in a close encounter at the Meres
Blyth began the game at a high tempo and raced into a 2 goal league inside the opening 20 minutes Alex Nicholson burst through on the right after 8 minutes to fire past Jake Turner in the Grantham goal. Grantham went close on 14 minutes when Ben Saunders header was cleared off the line and Rhys Lewis’s follow up was blocked by a defender. Blyth went 2 up after 17 minutes when Robbie Dale cut in to shoot just inside Turners far post. Grantham came more into the game as the half wore on forcing 6 corners to 3 for the opposition. Grantham thought they had pulled a goal back on 26 minutes but Jamie McGhee’s 30 yard effort had hit the side netting but 3 minutes later the same player volleyed home from the edge of the box. Grantham’s pressure almost brought an equaliser in the final minute of the half when Lee Shaw squared the ball to McGhee but his effort went narrowly over.
Grantham continued to push for the equaliser in the second half winning 4 corners in the opening 15 minutes. Jamie McGhee tested Blyth keeper Fabian Otte on 59 minutes but the keeper just managed to touch over his 35 yard drive. Against the run of play Blyth increased their lead on 63 minutes when Sean Read drove into the Grantham area to fire past Turner at his near post. Grantham did not wilt and continued to take the game to Blyth and were rewarded with a second goal on 81 minutes when Lee Shaw turned in a Michael Emmett free kick. Grantham went close to an equaliser on 84 minutes when Rhys Lewis saw his header come back off the underside of the bar. Blyth should have added a fourth goal in the final minute of the game when Daniel Maguire was through on goal but his shot came back off the bar and was cleared. Grantham had the ball in the net in added time but again it was ruled out by the assistant’s flag

Grantham
J Turner, D Meadows, L Gorman, M Hollingsworth, B McGowan, L Beeson, L Shaw, J McGhee, B Saunders, M Emmett.
Subs not used J Beckett, A Kirby, S Bilyk, C Vagaroso
Goals J McGhee 29, L Shaw 81

Blyth Spartans
F Otte, A Cartright, A Nicholson, D Morse, R Hutchinson (D Parker 16), S Turnbull, A Wearmouth, S Reid (M Richardson 80),
D Maguire, M Wade, R Dale.
Subs not used N Hooks, J Watson, P Robinson
Goals A Nicholson 8, R Dale, 17, S Reid 63

Referee Mr A Dale

Red Cards 0
Yellow Cards
Grantham L Gorman and R Lewis
Blyth D Parker

Corner Count
Grantham 10
Blyth 5

Attendance 311