In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 1-2 North Ferriby United
Tuesday 26th February
Croft Park
Doodson Sports League Cup Third Round
Attendance: 208
A late goal from North Ferriby United’s prolific striker Anthony Wilson meant that Spartans bowed out of this season’s Doodson Sports Cup at the Third Round stage having pushed the league leaders and cup holders all the way. There can be no doubt that the visitors had that extra bit of quality on the night but Spartans made them work for the win.
With Stephen Turnbull reporting ill pre-match Jack Stanger came in for the former Hartlepool United man in Spartans only change from last Tuesday’s win over Ashton United.
Spartans should have taken the lead within two minutes as Daniel Maguire was played in one on one with Antoni Pecora in the visitiors’ goal but the in form striker could only lash over the bar as Pecora closed him down. In a frantic start North Ferriby went straight down the other and Ryan Kendall could only crash a volley from a Banks cross over the bar when he actually had time to control the ball instead of taking the effort on first time.
There would be a massive let off for Spartans on twenty minutes as Banks cut in from the left wing and struck a swerving effort that Craig Pickering couldn’t hold on to. Villagers midfield Liam King met the loose ball six yards from goal and with an empty net gaping he contrived to fire over the bar. The ball was in the visitors net ten minutes later only for a linesman’s flag to deny Spartans the lead as a Wayne Buchanan header found Craig Hubbard free but as the former West Auckland midfielder calmly rolled the ball home he was denied by the offside decision.
There was little flow to the game as both sides struggled to put anything meaningful together and as the clock ticked down towards the interval there were only half chances being created. Jack Stanger and King traded attempted long range chips but neither player could find the net and stalemate ensued as the referee blew for half time.
Within five minutes of the restart the away side came within a whisker of the lead as Banks crashed a volley from a narrow angle against Pickering’s near post. It was all North Ferriby at that point and striker Kendall came close five minutes later as he span Spartans skipper Wayne Buchanan in the area and fired right across the face of Pickering’s goal. There was however no let off for Spartans twenty minutes into the second half as a superb Kendall cross found the unmarked Gary Bradshaw who made no mistake, heading home from eight yards out.
With the away side fully in control of the game and possession it came as a surprise when Spartans levelled the game with a goal of some quality. Injuries and a change of personnel had seen Lee Mason asked to play in his favoured striking role and he would take that chance by getting his side on level terms ten minutes from time. Collecting a ball on the right hand side Mason beat three men and found himself with a bit of space on the edge of the box and he struck and left footed effort low inside Pecora’s near post.
Mason was denied a second minutes later and he once again dribbled into the box but as he steadied himself to finish he was denied by a last ditch tackle by Mark Gray. Both sides were pushing for the win and it was to be the visitors who crucially took the lead a minute from the end of normal time as another cross caused problems in the Spartans back line. It would be substitutes Peat and Wilson who combined to send their side into the next round and a tie away at Eastwood Town with the latter crashing home a superb Peat cross and in the process leave Spartans to focus on their league campaign between now and the end of the season.
Spartans Man of the Match: Daniel Maguire
Blyth Spartans: Pickering, Airey, Mullen, Stanger(Turnbull 65), Buchanan, Slaughter, Mason, Hooks, Jennings(Hodgson 71), Maguire, Hubbard(Berj 62) Subs not used: Donnelly, Baxter Scorer: Mason 80
North Ferriby United: Pecora, Robson, Ridley, King, Anderson, Gray, Williamss, Fry, Bradshaw, Kendall(Wilson 82), Banks(Peat 82) strong> Subs not used: Nicklin, Foot, Bolder Goalscorers Bradshaw 66, Wilson 89
Referee: Mr Martin