In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 1-0 Eastwood Town
Saturday 17th November
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Attendance: 264
Whilst the fire alarm bells may have been ringing at Croft Park early on Saturday it was nothing to do with Spartans as they kept the home fires burning and extended their unbeaten home run to six games with a 1-0 win over bottom club Eastwood Town. It may not have been a performance that could get described as red hot or smoking but it did mean that the recent upturn in form under the stewardship of managerial duo Paddy Atkinson and Tom Wade was maintained. It was in fact a win that saw Spartans move into ninth position in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League, six points from a play off spot and with games in hand on all but one of the teams above them.
Following the gruelling one hundred and twenty minutes played in the draw with Whitley Bay on Tuesday, Atkinson and Wade made changes to their line up with Shaun Vipond returning to midfield at the expense of Tom Berj, Ryan McGorrigan replaced Phil Airey and there was one enforced change as Richie Slaughter replaced the suspended Shaun Utterson.
The game burst into life as early as the seventh minute as Spartans took the lead with a goal that was testament to the confidence and new passing style the now permanent managerial team have installed into their players. The once again impressive Neal Hooks winning the ball in midfield and playing the ball to the left hand side where he found Damon Mullen. Mullen played the ball around the corner and into the box where he found the onrushing Joe Kendrick and the left back made no mistake from ten yards as he fired past Stainsby in the visitors goal. That was a lead so nearly extended as a quick free kick by goalscorer Kendrick found Lee Mason on the angle of the box, he cut inside two men and fired a left footed effort narrowly wide of the far post.
The game was disrupted by a clash of heads between Spartans skipper Wayne Buchanan and Badgers striker Ewan Clarke and it was a clash that saw Buchanan with his head bandaged not for the first time in his Spartans career it must be said. It was a first half that really was all about Atkinson’s side and whilst they did have a lot more possession they couldn’t force a second goal. Shaun Vipond went closest as his linked up well with Ryan McGorrigan and Lee Mason but the former Workington midfielder’s volley dipped narrowly wide of Stainsby’s near post. Just on the half time whistle McGorrigan nearly got his fourth goal in the green and white as he collected a long punt from Conor Grant and sent Stainsby sprawling across his goal but his early shot went just wide meaning it was Spartans who went into the interval just a goal to the good.
The second half got underway and it would be a scrappy opening period with both sides battling for superiority and possession but with chances few and far between. The bandaged Buchanan should have maybe done better as he met a Joe Kendrick cross but his header from ten yards out fell tamely into Stainsby’s arms. It took twenty minutes into the second half for the first major chance as Spartans substitute Phil Airey forced the Badgers keeper into a smart stop with a header from a Lee Mason cross. However minutes later came the first flash point of the game and the dynamics all changed as McGorrigan caught Joshua Raven with a stray arm and referee Rogers swiftly and it must be said correctly issued a red card to the Spartans striker.
Within minutes the visitors had two chances as Conor Grant was forced into a smart stop from a Danny Elliott snap shot from the angle and Damon Mullen headed a Mitchell Hanson header off the line. Spartans were playing with their backs to the wall under pressure from the Badgers and the visitors debutant Scott Rogers really should have done better with a shot from the edge of the box that sailed well wide of Grant’s goal. Slowly but surely Spartans were getting to grips with playing a man down and began to create some chances of their own with the best one coming when Airey crossed to the far post and found Mason. The former Hartlepool United man connected well with a header that Stainsby got fingertips too but it was still heading goalwards only for Breach to clear off the line.
Whilst you would expect the visitors to press for an equaliser against a tiring Spartans side in reality the last ten minutes were reasonably comfortable for Atkinson’s side. Grant really wasn’t forced into action and the numbers would be levelled up as Badgers substitute Petter Aaser was dismissed for a crazy lunge on Tom Berj as the clock ticked into injury time. Far from holding out for a draw Spartans kept possession well in added on time and were reasonably good value for the three points. So it’s six unbeaten at Croft Park and now three games since they conceded at home as they prepare to welcome Nantwich Town next Saturday. However first they must make the short trip to Whitley Bay to face the Seahorses in the Northumberland Senior Cup Quarter Final replay on Tuesday.
Spartans Man of the Match: Neal Hooks
Blyth Spartans: Grant, Slaughter, Kendrick, Vipond, Buchanan, Donnelly(Airey 54), Mason(Berj 83), Hooks, McGorrigan, Mullen, Dale(Stanger 72) Subs not used: Maguire, Mellish Scorer: Kendrick 7
Eastwood Town: Stainsby, Breach, Raven(Munn T 87), Graham, Hanson, Elliott, Piliero, Rogers, Green, Clarke(Aaser 81), Holland Subs not used: Selvim, B Munn Goalscorers none
Referee:Thomas Rogers