Reserves hit eight to see off the Red

TEAM VALLEY CARPETS ALLIANCE DIVISION TWO

BLYTH Spartans Reserves maintained their march towards promotion - and the title - with a comfortable 8-2 home demolition of Gateshead Redheugh.

Five goals to the good at the break, Reserves stepped off the gas a little in the second half to concede two - but the damage for Redheugh was already done.

Goals from Owen Davison, Liam Wotherspoon and Karl Lazzari had Spartans’ second string three to the good inside half an hour before Davison and Lazzari added further misery before the break.

The second period carried on in much the same vein as Davison completed his hat-trick within four minutes of the restart.

Connor McMillan pulled one back a few minutes later before Andrew Murray and Wotherspoon’s second of the day made it eight with short of 30 minutes to go - Jordan Stevens claiming a belated second for the visitors with just 12 minutes remaining.

Prudhoe Youth Club’s gap in second place was cut to three points as they lost 3-0 at Blyth and third-placed Bedlington edged past Coundon 3-2.

At Blyth all three goals arrived in the final half-hour via Chris Phillips, Sam Johnson and Ryan Priest.

At Coundon a Wilkinson brace kept the visitors in with a chance of finishing runners-up, Joe Moscrop with the other while the hosts replied through Sadler and Thompson.

Matching scores were recorded at Whitburn and Wideopen, both registering 3-1 home successes over Spittal and Willington Quay Saints respectively.

Blyth Town and Winlaton drew 4-4 against Cramlington United and Whitley Sporting Club respectively.

At Whitburn, Craig Bell gave the visitors a first-half lead and the hosts had to wait until the final quarter before registering, Steven Usher levelling and adding a second late on after an Anthony Chapman penalty had turned things around.

Wideopen led early through Anesty, Rippin levelling on the half-hour.

However, strikes from Rogerson and Johnston in the second half ensured the points stayed at home.