Spartans win Town Cup battle

Nov 25 2009 by Malcolm Pratt, The Journal

Non-league

BLYTH Spartans safely negotiated a potential banana skin and comfortably defeated Morpeth Town 3-1 in last night's Northumberland FA Senior Cup Quarter-Final tie at Croft Park.

James Marwood nearly marked his debut with a goal on the half-hour but Morpeth goalkeeper Jak Wells made a splendid save to deny the youngster.

Three minutes later, however, Wells was beaten by Ricky Baynes and early in the second period Mark Donninger doubled Spartans' lead.

There was no way back for the visitors as Stephen Turnbull buried a free-kick into the top corner of the net and when Carl Thorpe replied, it was no more than a consolation goal for Morpeth.

Durham City twice led but went out of the UniBond League Challenge Cup at the Third Round stage when FC Halifax Town scored twice in the last 10 minutes.

Josh Home-Jackson fired into an empty net on 41 minutes but the lead was short-lived and before the interval James Riley beat debutant goalkeeper Richard Heiniger with a powerful header.

Early in the second period Home-Jackson restored the advantage to Durham from the penalty spot.

Within five minutes, however, Halifax restored parity courtesy of Kevin Sanash and from then on they dominated. James Riley put them in front for the first time and in stoppage time, Jamie Smith ended City's hopes.

Bishop Auckland produced the shock result of the season in the Brooks Mileson Memorial Cup when they defeated high-flying Spennymoor Town 2-1.