In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 3-0 Stocksbridge Park Steels
Wednesday 1st January 2014
Croft Park
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 278
A win for Spartans, not only over a stubborn Stocksbridge Park Steels outfit but also over the elements of a miserable Northumberland day. Goals from Paul Robinson, Dan Maguire and a first of the season for midfielder Neal Hooks meant that Tom Wade’s side rounded off an impressive Christmas period with nine points from a possible twelve.
With injuries mounting up there was one change for Spartans from Saturday’s win over Barwell with Matthew Wade replacing Damen Mullen in midfield.
A lightening quick start to the game from Spartans almost saw them take the lead within the first twenty seconds. Neal Hooks and Dan Maguire combined to release Craig Hubbard in on goal but the ten goal midfielder could only screw a shot well wide of Jack Ward’s far post. The pressure was maintained and midway through the half Paul Robinson crashed a twenty yard effort over the bar after Brett Bowden-Lovell had cleared a Robbie Dale free kick.
Slowly but surely the conditions take over the game and with a high wind and driving wind to contend with the play naturally slowed down. To their credit through both sides kept playing good football with chances few and far between. The only chance in the remainder of the first half saw Ward produce a point blank stop to deny Robinson after the midfielder had met yet another Dale cross, Robinson’s time was to come soon enough, but not in the first half as referee Marc Edwards called time on a quiet opening period.
Yet again Spartans were quick out of the blocks from the start of the half and took the lead just four minutes in. A break from a Steels attack saw Dan Maguire intelligently hold up the ball and release Robbie Dale down the left hand side of the area. The winger got his head up and picked out Paul Robinson who rolled home his second Spartans goal from eight yards, giving his side a lead they deserved.
The lead was almost doubled on sixty six minutes as a huge Misiewicz clearance caught the wind and released Maguire in on goal. Forced wide by the advancing Ward the Spartans frontman attempted an impudent chip that just went past the far post. Maguire though, is a man in form and one who will not be denied easily.
Minutes later Matty Wade ran on to a through ball and forced Ward into a smart stop. The loose ball ran to Maguire who rolled home into an empty net for his seventh goal in six game. Incredibly it’s also the former Seaton Delaval man’s seventh goal in his last four Croft Park games.
Buoyed by the realisation of a two goal lead Spartans began to play some impressive football and only a last ditch tackle denied Joe Kendrick a goal after the Irishman had been played in on goal by Hooks, the man who was to go on to seal an impressive win in the eighty ninth minute.
The Spartans midfield trio of Matty Wade, Craig Hubbard and Hooks all played a part in a lovely team goal that summed up all that is good about this new look Spartans this season. Wade and Hubbard linked up well to find Maguire on the edge of the box, he held the ball up and released Hooks in on goal. Showing the prowess you’d expect to see in a striker Hooks took one touch to steady himself before firing into the far corner with Ward grasping at thin air.
That win means that Spartans maintain their unexpected play off push and continue their impressive home form. Having played fifteen Croft Park fixtures this season Spartans have won ten of them, losing only two in the process. Ironically next up is a trip to one of the two teams who have came away from Northumberland with three points. Matlock Town provide Wade’s side with a stern test this Saturday but it’s one that should they show the commitment, desire and hard work they can go into with confidence.
Spartans Man of the Match: Danny Parker
Blyth Spartans: Misiweicz, Buddle(Cummings 45), Parker, Purewal, Kendrick, Hooks, Hubbard(Horner 82), Wade, Dale, Maguire(Watson 85), Robinson Subs not used: Grant, Wearmouth Scorers: Robinson 49, Maguire 73, Hooks 82
Stocksbridge PS: Ward, Royles, Banton, Swirad, Bowden-Lovell, Knowles(Hoyles 63), Hamshaw(DiMaio 82), Callery, South, Joynes, Grayson(Ring 85)Subs not used Lidka Goalscorers None
Referee: Marc Edwards