SUPER SUBS WIN GAME #2

And it’s another goal at the death that decides another five goal thriller*

Blyth Town 3 Brandon United 2 – Ebac Northern League Division Two

Like the previous night at Boldon, it was a late, late goal that sealed the win and like the game at Ryton (see earlier blog) it was a substitute who provided the decisive strike.

It looked as though Brandon had secured a hard-fought point until up popped Blyth No. 12 Kieran Brannen when, in the 88th minute, he turned on a dime – leaving a defender sat on the pitch – before firing in the goal that secured the three points in dramatic fashion.

It was a game where fortunes continued to turn throughout.  For just under 20 minutes it was a bit of a pinball game – neither team able to grab the match by the scruff of the neck, with a series of off-target shots.

The opening goal came when Brandon defender Glen Caygill misjudged and missed a long ball that let Blyth No. 9 Adam Johnson to coast past him and strike it past Brandon keeper Chris Gregory.  The goal was against the run of play, as Brandon had been on the front foot.

Gregory was then called on to grab the ball at the feet of Blyth attackers in a couple of attacks in quick succession.  Johnson (Adam) almost bagged a second just before the half-hour mark when Liam Shanley found him with a cross-field ball.  The No. 9 turned and saw his shot pushed away with a spectacular diving save by Gregory.

That save was matched a couple of minutes later at the other end when a cross from the right by Kieran Alderson was met with a volley by Kai Hewitson a couple of yards from goal that Blyth keeper Callum Elliott stopped with an excellent instinctive save, only for the ball to run to Scott Johnson who slotted it between three defenders to make it 1-1.

Both teams almost scored in the closing minutes of the half:  Blyth had the first chance when Johnson (Adam) sent a ball into the box and Joseph Gibson was within inches of connecting with it in front of the Brandon goal; and then at the other end, Niall Fingleton nudged the ball to Hewitson who had a clear run at goal only for Elliott to guess correctly which side the No. 9 was going to try and place it, stopping the curling shot down to his left.

The quality of the football belied the league position of both teams.  There was more to come in the second half.

Brandon No. 8 Nathan Plews produced the pass of the game in the 55th minute when he bisected the Blyth defence, setting Brandon Turnbull on his way, but the winger chose to go for goal rather than knock the ball across the box to team mates ready to strike.  In the 66th minute Blyth had three attackers up against two defenders in a quick break from the back, but Johnson (Adam) delayed his final ball to his team mates and Brandon were able to clear the danger.

With 15 minutes to go, Blyth sub Callum Johnston regained the lead for the hosts.  A driving run at pace by fellow sub Callum Senior allowed him to find Johnson (Adam) with his cross met by Johnston who took a couple of touches to turn the defence before placing it in..

The lead only lasted a couple of minutes.  A deflected shot by Fingleton came to Johnson (Scott) on the right.  He moved across the edge of the Blyth box before bending a shot past Elliott to cap a fine performance by the No. 3.  All square, until Brannen’s sting in the tail.

Johnson (Adam) almost scored a fourth for Blyth with the last kick of the game in the 94th minute as he tried to curl a shot round Gregory who made a fine save, diving down to his left.

(*I am conscious of using the word “thriller” several times to describe matches, but they have been some dramatic games so far this season.  Long may it continue.)

(PS – just a quick note on four players:  for Blyth, Adam Johnson and Liam Shanley looked good technically and had plenty of pace and movement; while for Brandon Jai Grant was solid defensively in a back three, while Scott Johnson, apart from their two goals, was their most dynamic player and always posed a threat.)

(PPS – You’ve got to have your wits about you with these teams.  Between them, they’ve got three Johnsons and a Johnston, and Blyth had six Callums and two Gibsons in their matchday squads.  All a bit confusing.)

Mike Snowdon