Source: Telegraph
Carlos Villaneuva's elegance sends Blyth out
For just under an hour, Blyth Spartans lived the dream, almost reliving Cup heroics of yesteryear. But class told, class in the form of the Chilean Player of the Year, Carlos Villanueva, whose elegant free-kick swept past Mark Bell, the full-time roofer and part-time keeper. [LNB]Yet staying true to their Cup traditions, Blyth refused to give up and ran the Premier League visitors ragged in the frenetic final stages as Croft Park roared itself hoarse. Andrew Wright shot wide and Alex Gildea headed over. The non-Leaguers should have tired but they kept going until the final whistle signalled the end of another FA Cup adventure. [LNB]Rovers had needed little reminding of the dangers lying in wait. They had known they had to be on their mettle. Blyth Spartans are a name redolent with Cup folklore. In the heaving club-house beforehand, Blyth fans sporting elk and hippo masks strained to get on television as the chairman Tony Platten gave an interview, reminiscing about events 31 years ago when Spartans captured the imagination and hearts of the nation. [LNB]For Platten and other locals, memories of the victory over Garth Crooks' Stoke City still warm them while the controversy of the collapsing corner-flag that cost them a last-16 triumph over Wrexham still rankles. Every year, those emotions get poured into the Cup, and a journey that began eight ties ago ensured that Croft Park was packed to its corrugated rafters. [LNB]All the Cup trimmings accompanied the game, the special song from Blyth rockers The Quireboys (replete with lyrics about dodgy corner-flags) and sponsorships from the likes of Viz and, rather confidently, Celebration Cards (the ball sponsor). [LNB]Arriving at Croft Park with faces lit up with expectation, Blyth fans soon had plenty to furrow their brows as Rovers took control. As Allardyce's reserves smoothly passed the ball between them, as Danny Simpson showed good adventure down the right, the 118 places between the sides looked about right. Blyth's keeper, Mark Bell, made a superb save from Keith Treacy, pushing out his right hand to push the midfielder's shot away. Matt Derbyshire then threw himself into an overhead kick, which deflected in off Richard Pell, but the Rovers striker was rightly ruled offside. [LNB]Blackburn's ability to flow forward, almost at will, was helped by Blyth's cautious tactics. Robert Dale, tall of stature but used to serving shorts, works in a bar and if he was this lonely during his paid shift his business would soon go bust. [LNB]The striker began as the distant focus of a 4-1-4-1 Blyth formation, looking for his midfielders to join him, but he usually waited in vain. Jed Dalton, a teenaged student, let fly midway through the half but Blyth lacked a cutting edge. Mark Bunn, Rovers' debut-making goalkeeper, had little to worry him for long periods. [LNB]Harry Dunn, the Spartans manager, saw the problem and pushed Shaun Reay into attack from his left-wing station. Yet, strangely, Dale was then deputed to cover the left, so the lack of a coherent attack continued. Reay briefly troubled Zurab Khizanishvili, Rovers captain for the night, but the Georgian recovered well, nicking the ball back. [LNB]Blackburn's best outlet appeared to be Treacy, who was denied by a superb block by Alex White, embodying Blyth's commitment to the cause as they reached half-time unscathed. Dunn's players departed to a huge ovation while Allardyce made the lengthy walk along the touchline accompanied by much ribaldry. [LNB]Blackburn's manager did not appear that perturbed. He had even conducted an interview midway through the first half. The Cup was clearly a distraction, a sideshow to be tolerated, a point made by his 11 changes. Survival in the Premier League remains Allardyce's priority. Rovers fans who had travelled up understood Allardyce's approach and the reason why so many of their stars remained back home, although Roque Santa Cruz's absence will merely intensify speculation that he is leaving for Manchester City. [LNB]Rovers supporters, who merrily mingled with their Blyth counterparts in the lively club-house beforehand, contented themselves with occasional jokes about their surroundings. When a ball-boy disappeared out of the ground to collect a wayward clearance, the visitors chanted: 'You've only got one ball''. [LNB]Blyth supporters were in similarly good heart, giving Andre Marriner, the referee, a steady stream of advice. 'If that's 10 yards, you're not measuring my carpets,'' came one quip. The players were constantly exhorted to get stuck into Rovers. 'Close him down – like Woolies,'' came one cry. [LNB]The credit crunch had affected Blyth, with their No 8, Chris McCabe, recently laid off from his factory job. It cannot have been for a lack of industry; McCabe worked overtime in midfield as Blyth's spirit hinted at possible drama. [LNB]Not for long. As the game inched towards the hour-mark, Alex Gildea got to grips with Villanueva in a manner unlikely to feature in the midfielder's personal trainer's manual. Catching Villanueva late, Gildea conceded a free-kick 25 yards out, slightly left of centre. [LNB]Villanueva took responsibility, placing the ball down and then swerving it left-footed past Mark Bell, a roofer by day and keeper by night. It was Villanueva's final contribution, as Allardyce sent on Jason Roberts to give Blyth's defence even more to worry about. [LNB]Yet Spartans suddenly started living up to their name, showing more of a warrior's trait, particularly when Andrew Wright scampered on to give the hosts' some welcome width. At last they played with a bit more belief, at last running at the Premier League visitors, at last living up to their famous Cup name. Aaron Mokoena twice had to make panicky clearances as Blyth pushed for an equaliser.[LNB][LNB]Team detailsBlyth Spartans (4-1-4-1): Bell; Boyle, Pell, Leeson, Doyle; Williams; Dalton, McCabe, Gildea, Reay; Dale.Subs: Brown, Hume, Poole, Todd, Wright, Watson, Farman (g).Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Bunn; Simpson, Mokoena, Khizanishvili, Olsson; Judge, Vogel, Grella, Treacy; Villanueva, Derbyshire.Subs: Andrews, Roberts, Hodge, Gunning, Doran, Haworth, Brown (g).Referee: A Marriner (Grimsby). [LNB]
