By Mark Carruthers
Blyth Spartans midfielder JJ O’Donnell is targeting more goals after helping his current employers to a 2-1 home win against former club Gateshead.
The former Luton Town winger found a home in the North East during a seven-year stay at the International Stadium but ended his time with the Heed when he joined Spartans on a permanent basis this summer.
He looked to be heading to a defeat in his first reunion with his old club when Paul Blackett fired Gateshead ahead with 15 minutes on the clock at Croft Park.
The lead was short-lived as O’Donnell came to the fore by making the most of the impressive approach play of Karl Byrne with a low drive that found its way inside the near post.
Spartans legend Robbie Dale netted the decisive goal from the penalty spot moments later as Terry Mitchell’s side claimed a second derby win inside a week after they battled to a 3-1 victory against Spennymoor Town last Tuesday.
O’Donnell was full of praise for his former club after the game and immediately set his sights on adding to his goal haul to help Spartans move away from the lower reaches of the National League North table.
He told The NLP: “I will always back myself to score goals and I always think I will get one, two or three chances in a game.
“If I am honest, I didn’t even see it go in but it’s always nice scoring against your old team.
“Gateshead are a team I support really, they gave me such good years and I have a lot of people to thank for my time there.
“I respect Gateshead, I had seven wonderful years and those people behind the goal were there for me when I was at my lowest point.
“I still look out for their results but I am a Blyth player, it’s my job to score goals for them and that is what I have done.
“Hopefully I can get a few more to help the club between now and the end of the season.”
Spartans will now turn their focus towards next Saturday’s visit to Curzon Ashton as they look to extend the six-point gap they currently hold on bottom of the table AFC Telford United.
O’Donnell believes that his side have underperformed recently but is hopeful they can build on their impressive wins against Spennymoor and Gateshead.
“We needed it because we have not been great to be honest,” he explained.
“Terry and Graeme have come in, they’ve brought fresh ideas and we always look like we will score now.
“The players at this club, we should be doing better than we are, but for one reason or another, we haven’t.
“That’s football, but it’s six points against two strong sides in derbies and that is exactly what we needed.”
