Jarrow FC 3 – 2 Blyth Town (30/08/2021 – 3pm Kick Off)

Northern League Division 2

30/08/2021 – 3pm Kick Off

Jarrow FC 3 – 2 Blyth Town

12’ Shaw, 55’ Blackburn, 61’ Hargrave | 42’ Gibson, 53’ Brannen

Jarrow made one change from the side that had just won 2 away games in a row with Jackson Waller making way for Kris Allen on a baking hot August afternoon.

The match started tentatively with neither side able to gain a foothold in the game until a Kris Allen through ball to Gary Shaw almost broke the deadlock on 9 minutes. The angle was tight for Shaw however and as he drove the ball towards goal, Sean in the Blyth goal saved well.

The break through did come soon after though on 12 minutes as a defence splitting ball from Brian Johnson sent Hargrave chasing down the right, because of the quality of the pass the defender had to deal with it but only managed to poke it back towards his own goalkeeper, the ball looped off Sean in the Blyth goal and fell kindly to Gary Shaw who slotted home from a few yards out for his 3rd goal of the season.

Jarrow then could’ve doubled their lead with firstly a header from Blackburn that was well saved from a corner swung in by Shaw, and secondly Blackburn then volleyed the rebound towards goal only for it to be blocked and cleared.

After 21 minutes another curling Gary Shaw cross found the head of Jason Blackburn only for the striker’s effort to narrowly miss the target. Jarrow were on top and creating good chances.

4 minutes later Blackburn chased a ball knocked over the top from Mcall and beating the keeper to it poked the ball towards goal but inexplicably it trickled past the post.

A period of good possession for the visitors followed as they managed to stem the flow of Jarrow chances and with a few minutes left on the clock before half time the ball was knocked around the midfield nicely and a reverse pass found Gibson in the box who managed to slot the ball home for 1-1.

Into the second half and it was Blyth again who found the back of the net. More good passing football found Brannen who drove towards goal and struck a sweet left foot shot into the bottom right-hand corner to make it 2-1 to the visitors.

Blyth’s second goal seemed to kick start the home side again however and some great play down the left with Shaw & Wallace, the latter managed to find a cross that was just behind Blackburn on the edge of the 6 yard box but the striker managed to adjust his body and volley left footed past Sean who had no chance in goal. 2-2 after 56’.

The second turn around of the game came only 5 minutes later as Blackburn bustled his way through the defence and played it to the feet of Hargrave on the right who cut inside nicely and curled a delicious strike into the top right-hand corner to make it 3-2 to home side.

Blackburn had the chance to extend Jarrow’s lead with 10 minutes to go but his shot went over the bar and the home side managed the game very well until the final whistle was blown. In the end it was a hard-fought win against a decent footballing side but Jarrow will be pleased that they didn’t come to rue those missed first half chances.

Brian Johnson was man of the match with a huge performance alongside the outstanding Graeme Mcall in the middle of the park.

3 wins in a row now since the home capitulation against Willington and the players and coaches deserve every bit of credit they get. A fantastic turn around from a committed and quality set of players.

Attendance:- 122