Blyth Spartans 3-2 Rushall Olympic

In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 3-2 Rushall Olympic
Saturday 23rd November
Croft Park
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 240

It’s quite a weekend for sports enthusiasts. With the Ashes, Rugby League World Cup, the return of the Premier League and the World Super Middleweight title fight between Carl Froch and George Groves there is plenty of choice. However none of them would surely match the levels of entertainment at Croft Park. In fact the participants in the latter would do well to match home debutant Paul Robinson’s late knockout blow that sealed a dramatic win for Spartans over Rushall Olympic, after they seemed to be on the ropes after throwing away a two goal lead and being reduced to ten men.

Despite being on a poor run of form there was a lightening quick start from Spartans and they almost took the lead within two minutes. A blockbuster tackle in midfield from Craig Hubbard saw the ball spring towards Dan Maguire. As he strode towards the area he squared to Paul Robinson but the former Darlington 1883 man could only drag his shot wide form ten yards. The home side kept up the pressure and should have taken the lead in the seventeenth minute as Ash Davis saw a low effort tipped wide at full length by Pics keeper Chris Gemmell.

However they couldn’t be denied from the resultant corner kick. Robinson swung a lethal cross into the area that caused an almighty scramble. With the Pics defence failing to clear Nathan Buddle prodded home his second Spartans goal – and first at Croft Park – from eight yards out. That was no more than his side deserved for a lightening paced start to their first home fixture for three weeks.

There have been two constants in Spartans season so far. Late goals and penalties and the latter made an appearance three minutes after Buddle’s opener. However Craig Hubbard saw his low spot kick well saved by Gemmell after the visitors number one had been penalised for a foul on Davis in the box.

Spartans were on top but there was one large warning sign before the break. A wonderful cross from the right hand side by Stan Mugisha found the head of Dele Adebola. However the veteran striker could only flick the ball just wide of Michal Misiewicz’s far post and Tom Wade’s side went into the interval with a deserved lead.

That lead was doubled just minutes after the restart and it was a goal down to persistence and hard work from front man Ash Davis. The striker chased a long ball out of defence by Joe Kendrick and forced Pics defender Jack Duggan into a mistake. The loose ball ran between Davis and keeper Gemmell with the Spartans man first to the ball. He flicked it back to Dan Maguire and he rolled into an empty net from the edge of the area, quite the way for the former Seaton Delaval player to celebrate his fiftieth appearance for Spartans.

Maguire almost made it three just before the hour as he latched on to a pinpoint through ball from Robbie Dale but could only flick the ball just wide with Gemmell stranded. The visitors punished that miss with just over twenty minutes left as a long ball caught out the Spartans back four and allowed Mugisha to provide a clinical finish as he strode towards Misiewicz’s goal.

A comeback seemed complete with twelve minutes left with the second spot kick of the game awarded to the Pics. The impressive Matty Wood burst forward from the left back position and his cross found Mugisha. The striker was brought down by Misiewicz although the Spartans keeper did seem to play the ball. Pics captain Gavin Caines lashed the spot kick home and it was game on with ten minutes left.

By the time Arran Wearmouth has replaced Robbie Dale but the young winger was dismissed by referee Danny Markham for an off the ball incident that involved visitors full back Jimmy Turner. To revisit the lazy boxing metaphor from earlier Spartans seemed to be almost on the canvas awaiting a knockout punch but they came out swinging and it was the Pics who were punch drunk with the full time whistle approaching thanks to a devastating blow from Robinson.

Dan Maguire broke down the right wing and evaded a desperate challenge from Wood. As the lively forward approached the box he rolled the ball to the left to Robinson. What followed will be remembered for a long time to come at Croft Park as the midfielder turned Turner inside out and after cutting back on his right foot lashed an unstoppable effort into the top right hand corner with Gemmell grasping at thin air. Croft Park went wild and rightly so as Wade’s side demonstrated another example of their never say die spirit that has taken them into play off contention.

There was still time for more drama with Misiewicz producing a fantastic stop to deny Wood and Sonny Andrews wasted a golden opportunity to seal the game as he pulled a shot just the far post after being played in on goal. However that miss wasn’t punished and Spartans got a win that they deserved for their endeavour and sheer grit, not to mention a quite wonderful winner from Robinson.

Spartans Man of the Match: Lewis Horner

Blyth Spartans: Misiweicz, Mullen, Kendrick, Buddle, Watson, Horner, Robinson, Hubbard(Wade 89), Dale(Wearmouth 68), Davis(Andrews 75), Maguire Subs not used: Hubbard Scorers: Buddle 18, Maguire 47, Robinson 87

Rushall Olympic Gemmell, Turner, Wood, Caines, Duggan, Martin, Spink(Craddock 56), Palmer, Adebola, Mugisha, Ramsey-Dickson(Obeng 65) Subs not used Daniel, Ellis, Tolley Goalscorers Mugisha 67, Caines pen 78

Referee: Danny Markham