The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH
SPENNYMOOR manager Graeme Lee wants his side to extend their remarkable run of form after they came from a goal down to beat North East rivals Darlington.
The Quakers looked set to continue their march away from the relegation zone when Matty
Cornish fired them in front in the early stages but goals from Will Harris and Rob Ramshaw helped the Moors to a seventh win in their last nine games.
The result also took Lee’s side to within four points of the play-off places as they now turn their attention towards tomorrow’s home game with Scunthorpe United.
Speaking after the game, Lee said: “We sat too deep throughout the game, which created spaces for them to hurt us really. It’s about trying to be brave enough to go on the front foot as a team.
“The second-half performance I thought was a lot better, we looked more solid and had more bodies on the line, headers when we had to, and we had some good opportunities. At half-time, we spoke about if we do our jobs now, we will win the game, but the game was probably too open for my liking. It was end-to-end, we wanted to score and they wanted to score – but a good performance and a win.”
There was a further blow for South Shields’ hopes of pushing for a National League North play-off spot as they fell to a narrow home defeat against fellow top seven candidates Brackley Town.
The Mariners came up short as a Morgan Roberts goal ten minutes from time ensured it was the visitors that secured what could be an invaluable three points at the 1st Cloud Arena. Speaking after the game, Mariners midfielder Robert Briggs urged his side to learn from the manner of the goal they conceded. He said: “They sucker punched us with a goal on the break but there is a lot to take from today, a lot to learn from, but it’s a bit deflating.
“We just said that it’s not acceptable at any level and we need to tighten it up, otherwise it will just keep happening and we need people to take responsibility to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Elliott Dickman’s side will hope to bounce back and reignite hopes of pushing for the top seven with a home win against a Chorley side sitting third place in the table ahead of their trip to South Tyneside.
Blyth Spartans saw their relegation worries increased as they fell to a narrow home defeat against fellow strugglers King’s Lynn Town. Jon Shaw handed a first start to Barrow defender Malakai Reeve after he joined Spartans on loan until the end of the season but fellow new boy Luke James had to make do with a place on the bench after making a similar move from South Shields.
Harry Gardiner and Will Mcgowan both came close to putting
Spartans in front during the firsthalf and Jordan Cook was unfortunate not to break the deadlock five minutes after the restart as he was denied by visitors keeper Paul Jones.
The deadlock was broken midway through the second-half but it was the visitors that grabbed what would be the only goal of the game as a penalty from veteran striker Jonny Margetts ensured the points went back to Norfolk.
The result means Spartans head into tomorrow’s home derby with Darlington sitting just three points above the Quakers, who currently occupy a place in the relegation zone after defeat to Spennymoor.