Blyth Spartans 1 Bournemouth 0

THIRTY years after having their dream of an FA Cup date with Arsenal shattered, the world renowned giant-killing name of Blyth Spartans emerged from the shadows to secure an historic date with Premier League Blackburn Rovers last night.

There will be a few sore heads in the Northumberland coastal town this morning after two of the Spartans’ substitutes combined a minute from time to knock out League Two Bournemouth in front of a sell-out crowd of a little over 4,000 at Croft Park.

And while hundreds of fans led by a young Santa donned in green and white invaded the pitch in celebration of the perfect pre-Christmas gift, former Scarborough midfielder Ged Dalton’s decisive volley grabbed attention across the country. Blackburn are next to visit on January 5.

Non-league Blyth’s chairman Tony Platten has already outlined his intention to play the game at Croft Park rather than St James’ Park as they did back in 1978, when the Spartans gained a reputation worldwide for their FA Cup exploits.

But, unlike that year when Alan Shoulder et al succumbed to Wrexham in front of 42,000, the winner from 18- year-old Dalton means manager Harry Dunn can now dream of dumping a top-flight team out of the cup.

With Dunn, who hails from Bishop Auckland, short of options in the absence of many key squad members including experienced midfielder Chris McCabe, Blyth were unable to name a full bench for the biggest game in their recent history.

But those that were on show delivered a staunch defensive display that laid the foundations for an upset, which was a credit to the Blue Square North division they represent.

Their struggling Football League opponents may have started the campaign on minus 17 points through financial irregularities, but Jimmy Quinn had steered them to an unbeaten six match run before their trip to Northumberland.

But it was a mark of Blyth’s first half performance that Quinn was forced into a rethink mid-way through the opening 45 minutes by withdrawing one of his strikers to leave former Portsmouth and Manchester City man Lee Bradbury on his own.

And it was Bradbury, a former solider before making the grade earlier in his career, who tried his luck on a couple of occasions from distance, only for goalkeeper Mark Bell to be untroubled.

The game turned on the hour mark when Bournemouth’s Brett Pitman, only introduced three minutes earlier, was sent off for an horrendous lunge on Paul Watson.

Dale failed to find the target when an open goal was gaping after a Jalal error but, with the tie seemingly heading for extra-time, Andrew Dalton teased over a cross from the left and Dalton grabbed the winner.

BLYTH (4-4-2): Bell 8; Boyle 8, Leeson 8, Pell 8, Gildea 8; Hume 8 (Dalton 72), Williams 8, WATSON 9, Poole 8 (Wright 60, 5); Dale 8; Reay 8. Subs (not used): Fenton, Gladwin, Evans, Farman.