Droylsden spoil Bank Holiday for Blyth; BLUE SQUARE NTH.

MICK TAIT last night revealed his disappointment at referee Simon Clayton after the County Durham whistler cost Blyth Spartans victory over Droylsden.

The Croft Park club - denied an earlier penalty when Liam Brownhill handled in the box - were leading 2-1 with just two minutes to play.

Clayton awarded what appeared a harsh free-kick against Gareth Williams when the Spartans skipper muscled Tony Gray off the ball.

Though Mark Bell saved the resulting set-piece, Danny Williams headed in the rebound to deny Blyth all three points and leave Tait fuming.

"It's very disappointing, I thought we deserved better than that," he said.

"The majority of the decisions seemed to go against us. We should have had a penalty for handball, but he's booked (Paul) Brayson for diving instead.

"Then he's given them a freekick when Cheeks (Williams) has just been stronger and won the ball.

"Their player just ran out of legs, he even admitted that, but the referee gives a free-kick."

Before then, Robbie Dale opened the scoring, running on to Brayson's third-minute pass to tap past Droylsden keeper Craig Hawson.

Shaun Whalley equalised four minutes later and Stephen Harrison's 72nd-minute strike looked like being a winner, until Clayton intervened.

"I suppose the fact that we're disappointed with a point shows how far we've come in a short space of time," Tait added.

"I expect Droylsden to be up there at the top of the table, they're a big, strong side but we played well and looked capable of beating them."

CAPTION(S):

SORE POINT: Blyth boss Mick Tait

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