SPARTANS SO CLOSE TO TITLE

BLYTH SP 2 RUSHALL 1

BLYTH SPARTANS grabbed a stoppage time winner to close in on the title after Rushall looked to have pinched a point.

The Pics frustrated Blyth – now 13 points clear at the top – for long periods before the deadlock was broken after 72 minutes.

Spartans sub David McTiernan grabbed the important goal, his first for the club, only for Rushall to level in the 91st minute.

Pics’ sub Stan Mugisha looked to have earned a battling point until Blyth winger Jarrett Rivers pounced at the death.

Spartans dominated a onesided first half but couldn't find a way past Pics' keeper Jose Veiga.

When he was beaten Brian Smikle and Henry Eze cleared off the line from Luke Armstrong and Ryan Hutchinson.

Veiga twice denied Spartans' top scorer Dan Maguire, while a heavy touch allowed Veiga to gather when Maguire was in.

An Andrew Cartwright mistake saw Rushall striker Gurjit Singh put a great chance wide.

But when the Pics failed to deal with Rivers' back post cross McTiernan scored before Mugisha equalised. Blyth, however, had the final say when Maguire set up Rivers, to the delight of the crowd.