ONE disheartened Blyth Spartans supporter asked the question “are we ever going to win?” as he made his way out of Croft Park on Tuesday night after seeing his side surrender a 1-0 lead against Stalybridge Celtic.

Spartans manager Tommy Cassidy must now be pondering the same question.

For despite a marked improvement in performances since his arrival during the festive period, his side have failed to pick up a solitary league win – in a sequence which stretches back to September 2011.

Tuesday’s result felt more like a defeat for the players and supporters, who are well aware that a draw means precious little when attempting to make up a 13-point deficit on fourth-bottom Hinckley United.

And even if Spartans are not playing like a side rooted to the foot of the Blue Square Bet North table, there is now a distinct possibility that they will suffer relegation for the first time in their 112-year history.

Blyth continued on from their second half showing against Altrincham on Saturday by really taking the game to Stalybridge in the opening period.

Wayne Phillips followed up a mazy run down the left by flashing the ball across the six yard box – with Shaun Utterson just inches away from getting a vital touch at the back post.

After Graeme Armstrong had been hauled down by Joel Bembo-Leta on the edge of the area, Joe Kendrick stepped up to curl his free kick over the wall, with only an impressive save from Celtic goalkeeper Jan Budtz denying him a first goal for the club.

Kendrick and Armstrong were involved again in Blyth’s next attack when the Spartans striker failed to guide his header on target after an inviting cross from the Dublin-born left back.

In the visitors’ only meaningful attack during a first half controlled by the hosts, Mitchell Austin surged towards goal, beating two defenders in the process before Spartans goalkeeper Robert Birdsall intervened to clear the danger.

At the other end, appeals for handball were waved away by the referee when Armstrong crossed into the area, with the ball bouncing up and striking Celtic’s Callum Warburton.

The hosts passed up a golden opportunity to take the lead seven minutes before the break when another expert dead-ball delivery from Kendrick found Jordon Mellish unmarked at the back post, but the young central defender missed the target with his header from five yards out.

A first time shot from Armstrong on the edge of the area then forced Budtz into showing strong hands in gathering the ball.

The breakthrough Blyth had threatened to make from the first whistle finally arrived on 41 minutes in fortuitous circumstances.

An initial shot from Utterson deflected off Celtic defender Rhys Meynell and looped over the head of Budtz, with Glen Taylor surging through for the simplest of tap-ins on the goal-line.

It could have got even better for Blyth seven minutes after the break when Neal Hooks latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the area to send a shot crashing off the Stalybridge crossbar.

No sooner were Spartans dreaming of a victory than they were contemplating yet another defeat as within a minute of rattling the woodwork they found themselves pegged back.

A routine ball forward from Stalybridge should have been dealt with by Mellish but instead he allowed Austin to nick it off his toes before rounding a stranded Birdsall to make it 1-1.

Spartans looked likely to restore their lead two minutes later as Taylor flashed an effort across goal but there was nobody on hand to turn the ball in from close range.

The visitors then had the ball in the net on 64 minutes through substitute Craig Hobson, but it was ruled offside by the linesman.

A floated free kick from Celtic’s Stephen Brogan hit the top of the crossbar and bounced out to cause momentary panic in the Spartans area before Wayne Buchanan cleared the danger.

Armstrong – who had deserved a goal for his tireless running – blazed a shot over from 25 yards.

But the striker’s best opportunity of the game arrived with two minutes of the 90 remaining when substitute Richie Slaughter delivered a deep cross which Armstrong just failed to guide into the far corner with his head.

Spartans now make the long trip to face Worcester City on Saturday.

Blyth Spartans: Birdsall, Groves, Kendrick, Anzevui (Slaughter), Buchanan, Mellish, Utterson (Mason), Hooks, Armstrong, Taylor (Little), Phillips.

Attendance: 339.

ASHINGTON were unable to prevent a second consecutive defeat inside four days when they went down by the odd goal in three against STL Northern League leaders West Auckland on Tuesday night.

Following Saturday’s abysmal display when they were knocked out of the FA Carlsberg Vase by Shortwood United, the Colliers showed a massive improvement and although they trailed by a single goal at the interval, should have been comfortably three or four goals up.

The fact that they were applauded off at half-time – and full-time - by a large following of supporters, endorses how well Gary Middleton’s side responded after their disappointment in Gloucester at the weekend.

With Tommy English in outstanding form, the Wansbeck side should have gone in front when the midfielder found Marc Walton who lobbed just over.

That was on the quarter hour and only three minutes later, West – who reached the quarter-finals of the Vase on Saturday by knocking out the winners from the past three seasons, Whitley Bay – edged in front.

Ashington had been undone by two free kicks at Shortwood, and it was yet another restart which proved to be their downfall.

They conceded a foul 20 yards out and John Campbell’s low and direct effort found the corner of the net.

If that was harsh on a Colliers side, just how the home side went in at the interval ahead was beyond comprehension, with missed chances proving to be costly.

Phill Bell squandered two opportunities, denied by a deflection with his first effort, then Walton lifted a right footer from 20 yards narrowly over in the second minute of time added on at the end of the first half.

Two minutes into the second period, Campbell proved to be a nemesis once again as he struck a second for Peter Dixon’s side in devastating fashion.

Adam Nicholls drove through the middle before laying the ball off to Campbell on the left and he cut inside before firing a right foot effort across keeper Karl Dryden and into the corner of the net.

But Ashington refused to give up, with Bell dragging a shot across the face of goal before the striker was barged to the ground by Matthew Coad in the 63rd minute with referee Mick McDonough pointing to the spot.

Bell duly converted, sending keeper Mark Bell the wrong way.

Mattie Moffat, a thorn in Ashington’s side over the years, then pulled an effort wide for the home side.

But undeterred, the Colliers kept the pressure on with Craig Scott driving over, Bell poking the ball goalwards only for substitute Ross Preston to clear off the line, then sub Gareth Bainbridge and Walton both firing inches off target.

After Saturday’s exit, the management team of Middleton, Neil Winskill and Richie Bond were looking for a response and a performance from the players. They got both in abundance – the only damper being the final result.

Ashington: Dryden, Taylor, Scott, O’Dea, Atkin, Grieve, Johnson, Tait, Walton, Bell, English (Bainbridge 84 mins). Subs not used: Rees, Dugdale, Mullen, Buzzeo.

A PROMISING team from Blyth have netted victory in their first ever county championship.

Young netballers from Bede Academy Primary battled it out to become overall champions at the finals of the ‘High 5’ Blyth and Bedlington School Sport Programme netball tournament.

The Year 5 players, many of whom had never played competitive netball, triumphed over Croftway Primary School, in the final at Blyth Sport Centre.

The tournament was organised by sport leaders from Bedlington High School and Bede Academy North.

High 5 is a modified version of the game using five players, allowing the usual seven squad members to rotate positions throughout the competition.

Leaders from New Delaval and Guide Post Middle School also assisted in acting as team managers for the young players throughout the day.

Teams who qualified for the semi-finals included Bede Academy Primary, Croftway, New Delaval and Bedlington Junior High.

Bede Primary headteacher Irene Watson said: “All of our young players were very excited to be playing in their very first tournament and they were up against some very good competition.

“It is a wonderful achievement for them to have brought back the winners trophy to school.

“Competitions like this provide a good stepping stone for promising young players, from primary schools, to carry their playing on to secondary school.

“It also helps the students develop the skills of the game as well as well as learning team dynamics and building confidence.”

A SEATON Delaval school’s boys’ team has been crowned regional winners of the Carnegie Champion Schools’ rugby league tournament.

Astley Community High School beat Egglescliffe School 22-4 and in the final to win a place in the national stage of the competition.

In the match against Egglescliffe, Astley quickly went ahead 6-0 and led at half-time 10-4.

After the break they took total control and added a further 12 points without conceding.

In an outstanding team performance, Matthew Hall scored all four tries for Astley and Will Ramsay, who converted on three occasions, received the man of the match award.

The next round of the competition sees Astley drawn to play at home against the Deanery School from Wigan.

The match takes place on Wednesday, February 29 with a 2.15pm kick-off.

FIGHTERS from the East Meets West Black Belt Academy in Bedlington Station competed in the World Kickboxing and Karate National Championship in Manchester.

And seven of the team came away with medals – one gold and six bronzes – and as a result have qualified for the England team to compete in the World Championship in Montreal in Canada in October this year.

Karen Grieves won the gold while eight-year-olds Robbie Cowell and Eleanor Gray won bronze medals, as did May Kongklaew, 17, Beer Klongklaew, 15, Sam Moulding, 18, and Daniel O’Malley, 20.

The club is actively involved in fundraising activities and they have already held a bag pack at a local supermarket, held raffles and a fundraising evening to £600.

Further events are planned for later in the year and they will be approaching organisations and businesses in a bid to secure funding.

The trip to Canada for all the competitiors will cost £9,078.

The club intends to raise money but are appealing to anybody who can help with sponsoring or in making a financial contribution should contact the club on 07751 338638 or e-mail friendsofeastmeetswest@gmail.com

NEW Hartley Juniors’s good run continued on Saturday with a hard fought 2-1 win over Ryhope.

Hartley welcomed back England schoolboy players Kyle Downy and Peter Ravenhill, who have both just spent a week in Spain with the national squad.

A close game was expected after the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw at Ryhope in November.

It was Ryhope who took the lead on 25 minutes when Matthew Harrision tried his luck fom 20 yards and saw his effort loop over Barnard into the Hartley goal.

Hartley fought back to level ten minutes later through Johnny Lowes.

The second half could have went either way but with both keepers and defences on top form, it was hard to see a winning goal coming, with a Ravenhill header shaving the post the closest to a goal.

But with 85 minutes on the clock, James Job played a great ball out to Sam Norris on the wing and he crossed hard and low and the Ryhope keeper failed to hold it and it fell to the poaching Ravenhill who blasted home from two yards to put Hartley 2-1 up.

Ryhope did have one last chance in the last minute but a supurb Kyle Barnard save made sure Hartley took all three points.

The two sides will meet again in the semi-final of the Durham Youth Cup next month, but on Saturday Hartley face a trip to Newton Aycliffe in the league.

NEWBIGGIN Boxing Club’s Kai Hume has become the first from the club for more than a decade to reach the national final of the Schoolboy Championships.

He was in action at Manchester at the weekend in the semi final against Yorkshire’s Beck Emery.

After a clinical performance, the fight was stopped early in the second.

Hume’s 2012 championship run has been a major success with three stoppages from three fights.

And he has not had one point scored against him in the three fights.

The club travel to Mansfield this weekend for the national final.

Other action last weekend saw Keiran ‘Kizza’ Robertson in a rematch with Mark Mulholland of Leam Lane.

Robertson took a clear points victory with some good head and body shots.

Last Saturday saw the return of Brandon Singer and Alex Rayne.

Singer was first and showed speed and quality in his work, but two of the judges thought different, losing him a split decision.

Rayne was next in the ring. Returning from a broken wrist he stormed to a comfortable points victory.

THE semi-finals of the Saints Shield and Eric Anderson cups were played at the weekend in the Standard Security Blyth and Wansbeck Sunday League.

Cowpen Percy Arms, after an indifferent first half against Blyth Masons Arms, went through to the final of the Saints Shield.

Masons were much the better side in the first period but three goals in the second half by Steven Rylatt (2) and Paul Cotterill saw Percy progress.

They will now meet Ashington Grand in the final after a 6-2 against Blyth South Beach.

A 40-yard strike from Michael Hogg was followed up by a 30-yard effort by Graham Hogg – to complete his hat-trick – as Grand went 4-1 up. David Jones and Paul Hedley scored Grand’s other goals. Josh Miller and Mark Richardson scored for Beach.

New Hartley booked their place in the Eric Anderson final with a 4-1 home win against West Allotment. Goals for Hartley came from Scott Evans (2), Carl French and Nick Jefferson.

In the other semi, Ashington Grand Street were 2-0 up at the break at home against North Shields Royal Arms but three second half goals, including one in the last minute, saw Royal progress to the final. Goals for Street came from Robert Groves and Graham Buller.

Burradon and New Fordley eased into the semi-final of the Alan Davison Cup with an 8-0 home win against Ashington White House. Goals came from Michael Chilton (2), David Atkinson (2), Ian Lee, Andy Wright, Steven Anderson and Phil Arnott.

In the premier division, there was a 5-2 win at home for Newbiggin against the Milbourne Arms. Scoring for Newbiggin was Jay Riches, Jonathan McAnaney, Steven Sanderson, Rob Holden and Ashley Smyth. Scoring for Milbourne was Scott Brotherick and Sean Storrey.

Division one saw a ten-goal thriller as Whitley Lodge Kittiwake and New Delaval and Newsham ended 5-5. A hat-trick from Jeff Fuller and two more from Ian Locke secured the point for the Newsham side.

Monkseaton Arms won at home 4-2 against High Street. Shaun Taylor and Jason Smart scored for High Street.

After their good win last week, Bedlington Community again came out on top in their division two game away to Cramlington Phoenix, winning 4-1.

Craig Johnson was on target for the Phoenix. Scoring for the Community was Michael Robinson, Carl Stobbart, Jamie Graham and Antonie Harrison.

Marden Resident just scraped past AE Phoenix 4-2. Goals for Marden came from Carl Farmer (3) and Richard Thompson. James McSparron and Barry Tait scored for the Phoenix.

Newsham Willow Tree went down at home 3-0 against Blyth Ridley Park to goals from Ross McLeod (2) and Ian Dawson.

BLYTH Rangers Valencia Under-16s twice came from behind to earn a hard fought point against Newbiggin Hall.

Having conceded early to a good finish, Blyth could not get into their rhythm, with chances few and far between.

But to their credit they pressed and Andrew Asman thought he had an equaliser when Robert Goodall’s corner was headed back in to the middle for Asman to volley home.

But the assistant judged the ball to have gone out and back in from the corner.

Ross Laidlaw then went close before Blyth levelled when Laidlaw headed back across goal for Asman to score.

The second half saw Blyth create more chances and have some better play.

But Newbiggin held firm and their goalkeeper pulled off two great saves.

Blyth’s defence were then caught out by a long ball forward and Newbiggin took a deserved lead for all the efforts.

But Blyth never gave up and it was Asman again who rose above everyone in the box to head in the equaliser with ten minutes to go.

Man of the match Asman almost got his hat-trick when his last minute free kick clipped the post from the edge of the area, and there was still time after that for Goodall to win it but his shot was saved at the second attempt.

Sunday sees Blyth’s biggest game of the season so far – the Divisional Cup semi-final at home to Guide Post - kick-off 2pm.

THE Blyth Spartans Under-15s team has certainly grown this season and can be summed up no better than this game.

In the return fixture before Christmas, Blyth comfortably ran out winners against a decent Forest Hall side, and since then both sides have remained unbeaten in the league.

In a quality game clear cut chances were few and far between, however, half way through the first half a corner by Blyth’s James Gillie could only be turned into the net by a Forest Hall defender.

However, Blyth were in for a shock when Forest Hall scored an impressive equaliser with about 25 minutes to go.

Blyth, knowing only a win would do, threw the proverbial kitchen sink at their opponents and the pressure was rewarded with Liam Wall’s 21st of the season, with around 15 minutes to go.

But Forest Hall were not finished and man of the match Joe Brooks and Alex Youll in particular quelled further attacks.

An excellent win for Blyth and a much needed run out and boost before this weekend’s important divisional cup semi-final.

THE Blyth Valley Pool Association sponsored by Goschen Street Garage & Union Private Hire saw the top two teams come head to head with both fielding a current England international.

Of the internationals it was Paul Riley who had the better of the night, winning both of his singles and the Sports Club A winning 8-4 against Bedlington Station, with Chris Gill, Bedlington’s England international unlucky in losing his singles.

The Percy had a strong 9-3 win against Sports Club B, and the Comrades had a good night with their A team beating Annitsford Irish 7-5 and the B having a huge 10-2 win against the Seahorse.

Cramlington Village Club A beat Newsham Side Club 7-5 but the B team suffered a heavy 10-2 defeat to Brockwell Seam

Blyth Sports Club A have opened a nine-point gap at the top of the table but arguably have a harder run of games coming up so the title chase is far from over.

NEWCASTLE United Ladies – five leagues above Ashington and nine points clear at the top of the championship – progressed to the semi-finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup on Sunday after a convincing win over the Angels.

In the first half Ashington – who lost midfielder Laura Jobson through injury – did well to hold the hosts until the 37th minute when Newcastle took the lead through Steph Eadon.

Danny Clasper went close to an equaliser when keeper Laura Wareham spilled her powerful free kick.

Just before half-time Newcastle added a second through Jess Hevelock then at the beginning of the second half Ashington keeper Laura Powell brought down Jess Foster and Stacey Crooks slotted home the penalty.

As the match wore on, United’s fitness and superiority showed as they added another five goals through Hevelock (2), Sarah Wilson, Crooks, and Foster.

On Sunday Ashington are at home to Prudhoe Town in the League Cup – the match to be staged at Pegswood Welfare with a 1pm kick-off.

Ashington Ladies: Powell, Bolton, Kavanagh, Hooper, Caldow, Ginger, Naples, Jobson, Wright, Clasper, Tighe. Subs: Sayer, Hogg, Latto, Murphy.

MB SOCCA Leagues’ division one leaders Real Ashington put seven past Bankhouse and are only four weeks away from their second title in a row.

Second placed V & N Jewellers ensured they only trail by three points as they won 4-3 against Station Boys.

An end to end game but V & N have an inferior goal difference to the leaders.

In the final division one game, bottom side ACE United scored a dramatic last minute winner to seal a 3-2 win over Multiple Scoregasms and in the process move off the bottom of the table.

Division two leaders The Whipping Boys were left stunned as their seven-goal thriller against second placed Station FC finished 4-3 to Station.

Ashington All-Stars won 3-0 as did Newsham in the final game of the night on the 3G surface at Hirst Welfare in Ashington.

There are four weeks remaining and old and new teams can now join for the new season starting in five weeks.

Call Graham on 07891 321753 to register, or for more information go to www.mbsoccaleagues.co.uk