Carlos Villanueva's superb free-kick in the second-half brought spirited non- league Blyth's FA Cup run to an end.

Matt Derbyshire and Keith Treacy went close for Rovers before Villanueva curled a left-footed strike into the top corner (58) for the lead.

Spartans rallied after going behind and should have levelled when Andrew Wright blasted wide from close range, while Alex Gildea missed with a header.

Blyth Spartans: Bell, Boyle, Pell, Leeson, White (Todd 63), Reay, McCabe, Williams, Gildea, Dale, Dalton (Wright 70).

Blackburn: Bunn, Simpson, Mokoena, Khiz'vili, Olsson, Vogel, Grella (Andrews 60), Treacy, Judge, Villanueva (Roberts 59), Derbyshire (Hodge 83). Goal: Villanueva 58

Ref: A Marriner



Dunn rues late misses

Boss Harry Dunn rued Blyth's late missed chances as they crashed out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 third-round defeat at the hands of Blackburn.

Carlos Villanueva ended the Blue Square North side's run with a brilliant free- kick at Croft Park.

Dunn said: "We might have pinched it. But it says something that a Premier League side were taking the ball into the corner to waste a few seconds."

Sam admits frustration

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce felt his side should have recorded a more convincing victory over non-league Blyth in the FA Cup's third round.

Allardyce claimed a team of youngsters and fringe players were guilty of inexperience in their failure to close out the match, which they won 1-0.

He said: "We should have seen the game off a lot sooner than that and nearly paid the price for not doing it."