Moors kicked off their pre-season schedule with a win, as goals from Glen Taylor, Junior Mondal and Danny Johnson put Blyth Spartans to the sword at Croft Park.

The Moors captain opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a well-directed header, before Mondal thumped home the second of the game just eight minutes later. Blyth pulled one back in the second half, but Johnson’s composed finish nine minutes from time sealed the victory.

Taylor could have opened the scoring earlier as he went for goal with just three minutes on the clock, but his low driven free-kick did little to trouble Mauro Asikaogu in the Spartans net.

Great work from winger, Cam Salkeld, saw him find space to whip an inviting ball into the penalty area from the left-hand side. His ball found the head of Taylor, who made no mistake and routinely nodded home.

It didn’t take long for Moors to double their lead, as Mondal was on hand to smash a powerful effort into the roof of the net from close range with 20 minutes on the clock after a good nod down from Louis Stephenson.

Both sides saw efforts fly over the bar in quick succession, as Rob Ramshaw and Lucas Taylor failed to get their names on the scoresheet.

Moors almost had a third soon after the half-hour mark, but a good save from Asikaogu denied summer signing Frankie Whelan of a debut goal.

Trialist B was also denied from close range just minutes later, but this time by an incredible defensive block on the goal-line from a Spartan man.

The Moors’ trialist ‘keeper was forced to produce a wonderful diving save to his right just two minutes into the second period, recovering well to deny Blyth from pulling one back.

Newly announced frontman Danny Johnson looked to impress the travelling Moors supporters on his first appearance for the Club when he found space to strike inside the area, only to see both his initial strike and rebounded effort failed to find the back of the net.

The hosts were gifted a golden opportunity to strike following a defensive mix-up at the back but were forced to settle from a corner after a brilliant block deflected the effort wide.

Substitute, Rio Joisce managed to find the net for the Green Army just 16 minutes from full time, as good footwork allowed him to round the Moors goalkeeper on the edge of the area and fire home to set up an exciting end to the game.

However, any doubt over Moors’ victory was swiftly put to bed as Johnson marked his debut with a goal. A pinged ball down the left from Mondal found the run of Ramshaw, who cut it back to the front post for Johnson, who swept a cool finish into the back of the net.

An overall positive afternoon for Tommy Miller’s side, who will now shift their focus to Tuesday night’s next pre-season test in the form of a trip to Seaton Carew.

Full Time: Blyth Spartans 1 Moors 3

Moors: Trialist, Stephenson, Whelan, Pollock, Jones, Jenkins, Trialist, Mondal, Ramshaw, Salkeld, Taylor.
Subs not used: Raine, Trialist, Cofinas.

Attendance: 444

Written by Noah Betts