In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 4-2 Witton Albion
Saturday 8th February 2014
Croft Park
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 337
There are many cliches in modern day football and perhaps one of the most popular ones can sum up Spartans win over Witton Albion. This was very much a game of two halves with the visitors on top for the first period before being overpowered by Spartans attacking play during the second half. The three points were enough to move Tom Wade’s side up to sixth place in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League as their play off push shows no sign of relenting.
Unsurprisingly there were no changes in the lineup following the impressive win over title favourites Chorley last time out although Paul Robinson did return to the bench after the completion of his three match ban.
Spartans started on the front foot and took the lead in the sixth minute with a magical goal from the in-form Robbie Dale. The winger collected a pass and skipped past his marker Anthony Gardner before cutting in from the touchline and smashing the ball from a narrow angle into the top right hand corner of the net. It was a lead that Spartans held on to for all of ninety seconds.
The blustery conditions were causing major issues for the Spartans back four and when a gust of wind took the ball over Joe Kendrick’s head it allowed Danny Andrews to get into the area. He didn’t pass up that chance and curled the ball exquisitely into the far corner with the instep of his left foot.
The visitors belied their precarious league position by dominating the rest of the first half, albeit assisted by having the wind at their backs. The impressive Alex Ticthener went close with a vicious volley from just inside the box and Conor Grant denied Josh Hancock after the winger had smashed a low drive at the near post. However there was nothing Grant could do to prevent Albion going ahead eight minutes before the inteval as Hancock’s free kick from the left was flicked goalwards by Michael Powell, a flick that saw the ball creep just inside the far post to give the visitors a deserved lead.
With the words of Tom Wade and Colin Myers ringing in their ears and the wind now blowing at their backs Spartans began the second half on top. For all of their pressure it took until the hour mark for them to get on level terms with a penalty from Dale. Man of the match Neal Hooks broke away from midfield and played an intricate through ball to the ever dangerous Dan Maguire. He got to the ball before Albion keeper Cooper who upended the the striker and referee Marc Edwards pointed to the spot. Dale, just as he had in the reverse fixture sent the keeper the wrong way and got his side back level.
Albion had a golden chance to retake the lead soon after as centre back Rob Bodie headed a Hancock corner wide despite being unmarked eight yards out. He was to be punished for that miss as Spartans took the lead with ten minutes left although the dispute over who scored the goal rumbles on. Substitute Paul Robinson gave Spartans fresh impetus when he replaced Ian Watson and his stinging drive was tipped over by Cooper.
Dan Maguire took the resulting corner from the left and his vicious inswinging cross sneaked inside the far post although midfielder Lewis Horner had a more than valid claim that he had headed the ball home. Regardless of who scored the goal Spartans sealed the win a minute from the end of time, although not before Powell headed wide from point blank range after beating Conor Grant to a Hancock cross.
A breakaway from an Albion corner saw Robbie Dale played in on goal. The winger tried an audacious chip but that was blocked by Cooper, although the ball rebounded to Dale who headed goalwards. That effort was cleared off the line and fell to Robinson who also saw an effort cleared but Dan Maguire pounced on the loose ball and tapped home to seal all three points for his side.
The win saw Spartans rack up some impressive statistics. They’re now unbeaten at home in the league in ten games, winning nine of them and they have scored three or more goals in the four home fixtures and remain unbeaten in 2014. Maguire is also the first Spartans player since Paul Brayson in 2010/11 to score twenty goals in a season. However the most important statistic is that Wade and his side took all three points and are now firmly in the play off race as they head to Stafford Rangers next Saturday.
Spartans Man of the Match: Neal Hooks
Blyth Spartans:Grant, Utterson, Parker, Buddle, Kendrick, Hooks, Horner, Wade(Hubbard 70), Dale, Maguire, Watson(Robinson 75) Subs not used: Purewal, Wearmouth, Cummings Scorers: Dale 6 and 60 pen, Maguire 81 and 89
Witton Albion: Cooper, Gardner, Brown, Harrison, Bodie, Jackson(Bakkor 65), Hancock, Breeze, Powell, Titchener, Andrews strong>Subs not used Dawson, Crofts, Moseley, Plant Goalscorers Andrews 8, Powell 37
Referee: Marc Edwards