Spartans legend Dale nears double century
ROBERT Dale scored the 199th goal of his Blyth Spartans’s career as his side beat Ashton United 2-0 in the National League North.
Sean Reid netted the opener on 51 minutes – via a Dale cross – before the Blyth legend sealed the game in the dying minutes.
Samuel Sheridan was given a 93rd minute red card for a second bookable offence on an afternoon Spartans dominated from start to finish.
Blyth made one change from the team which won 3-1 away at Nuneaton Borough, Lewis Horner replacing Alex Nicholson at right-back.
Dale tormented the Ashton left-back Tom Stead in the opening exchanges, with the defender substituted after just 17 minutes without the appearance of an injury – his frustrations clear to see as he shunned his manager Jody Banim.
In the 23rd minute Sean Reid looked to reproduce his goal from the 3-2 win over Stockport County, but the goalscoring midfielder was unable to replicate the venom of his previous strike, Luke Pilling with a comfortable save.
With six minutes left until the break, Spartans struck the woodwork. Dan Maguire chested down a long ball and opened some space for himself on the edge of the area.