In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 3-1 Chorley
Saturday 25th January 2014
Croft Park
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 437
In a season where Tom Wade’s youthful Blyth Spartans keep surprising it could be said that a win over Evo-Stik Northern Premier League title favourites Chorley would be surpass the lot. Well today at Croft Park that is exactly what they did, but it wasn’t by fluke or good fortune. No, this win was earned by hard work, team spirit and a sheer will to win that warmed the hearts of a vibrant Green Army inside what can be rapidly renamed Fortress Croft Park. The win over the Magpies made it eight wins out of nine at home for Spartans, only Marine have come away from Northumberland with a point during that spell.
With confirmation that the pitch passed an inspection came the announcement that right back Shaun Utterson made his second debut for the club and in the process his fiftieth appearance for the club. Conor Grant replaced Michal Misiewicz in goal and Nathan Buddle moved in to centre half to accommodate Utterson at full back.
A bright start to the game saw both sides attacking without reward, that was until the twentieth minutes when the title challenging Magpies took the lead. A clever Dale Whitham through ball saw captain Andrew Teague released into the right hand side of the area. His dangerous ball across the six yard box was diverted into his own net by Utterson, not the welcome back to Spartans he envisaged pre-match.
The dominance from the visitors continued and Grant was forced into a smart stop from a Whitham volley from all of twenty yards on the half hour mark. Surely now it was all about Spartans getting into half time just one goal behind? Well no actually as it happened they were the side going into the break in the lead following a remarkable minute of football.
A wonderful one and two touch passing move saw Lewis Horner break towards the edge of the Magpies area. The former Hibernian midfielder played an intricate through ball to release Dan Maguire in on goal. With an already impressive recent goalscoring record to boast of there was never any doubt Maguire would score and he duly obliged with a calm finish into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
Just thirty seconds later Spartans were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after Ian Watson was upended and Neal Hooks stepped up to take the kick. He curled a wonderful right footed free kick past Magpies keeper Ashton who was left grasping at thin air as Croft Park recovered from an unbelievable passage of play.
The visitors are not title favourites for no reason and they were almost on even terms within five minutes of the restart. Only a brave Nathan Buddle block denied Jake Cotterell after he has smashed a volley goalwards from the edge of the Spartans area. To their credit Wade’s youngsters hit back although it was an older head who tested Ashton when Robbie Dale forced the keeper into a smart stop at his near post.
The turning point in the game came but it wasn’t a goal or a refereeing decision that provided it. A Chorley break saw Jack Dorney left with a relatively simple tap in but the former AFC Fylde winger was denied by a brave point blank stop from Grant, from that moment on Spartans visibly lifted as they sensed it was their day.
If ever a killer goal was needed then today was the day and it duly came on eighty two minutes. Some persistent closing down from Dale forced Mark Ross to concede a corner. From the resultant flag kick Dan Maguire swing the ball into the area where it was met by the head of centre back Dan Parker. His firm header across goal nestled into the far corner for his second goal of the season and sealed a hugely impressive three points for Spartans.
On a day when big hearts were needed Spartans showed all of the old Blyth Spirit to notch a win against a side they more than likely won’t face next season….or will they? With every passing win and achievement there is a growing confidence that a genuine play off push could be on. One thing is for certain from what Croft Park has seen from this young Spartans side it certainly won’t be for a lack of effort or commitment.
Spartans Man of the Match: Nathan Buddle
Blyth Spartans:Grant, Utterson, Parker, Buddle, Kendrick, Hooks, Horner, Wade(75), Dale, Maguire, Watson(Wearmouth 81) Subs not used: Purewal, Mullen, Cummings Scorers: Maguire 44, Hooks 45, Parker 82
Chorley: Ashton, Ross, Jarvis, Teague(Walmsley 45), O’Brian, Cotterell(Roscoe 83), Hine(Mather 69), Woolcott, Dean, Whitham, Dorney strong>Subs not used Grundy, Vermiglio Goalscorers Utterson o.g 20
Referee: Mr Hudson