ASHTON UNITED 2, BLYTH SPARTANS 2
A late equaliser from Michael Woods saw visitors Blyth Spartans rescue a point from an entertaining first day encounter against Ashton United.
Newly-relegated Spartans arrived at Hurst Cross with Nobby Solano, the former Newcastle, Aston Villa, West Ham and Peru international, as manager of the North East club.
They moved ahead after 16 minutes as a quick interchange saw the ball fall to captain Nicky Deberdics who fired home from the edge of the area.
A minute earlier the same player had only been denied by a vital block from Josh Doherty after Ashton had made the brighter start.
Nobby Solano signs a shirt at Ashton United
Six minutes after the opener, James Hardy’s chip into the area was controlled on his chest by Darius Osei before he hit a fierce volley over the top and Hardy’s own shot then deflected over the bar after a great run by the influential Jack Massey.
Approaching the interval, Sean Newton’s forward run led to his swinging cross being headed on to the roof of the net by Jason Gilchrist.
On the resumption, Doherty’s goalbound effort was blocked just in time and from the resulting corner Dan Cowan’s header was just clawed away and four minutes before the hour Gilchrist headed home Louis White’s deep cross only to be pulled up by the linesman’s flag.
It took until the 64th minute for the Robins to find the equaliser as Sam Baird’s pass into the area allowed Osei to turn and cross leaving last season’s leading scorer Gilchrist with a tap in and with 14 minutes remaining a long free kick saw Tom Denton’s knock down forced home by Osei inside the six-yard box.
Gilchrist should have made matters safe with seven minutes left as he was denied by a last-ditch save from Harrison Bond and the hosts were made to pay shortly afterwards as persistence by Isiah Cornet saw his cross turned home by Woods from 10 yards to level matters.
There was still time for another Denton flick on to see Osei denied close in and right on time Daniel Savage hit the side netting for Spartans after a one-two with Joao Gomes before Savage was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Baird as both sides continued to seek a winner.
Ashton United: O’Keefe, Cowan, Doherty, Newton, Burke, Baird, Hardy (Denton 74), White, Gilchrist, Osei, Massey (Couto 62). Subs (unused): Bjork, Johnson, Chmiel.
Attendance: 271.
Report: David Robinson.