Spartans midfielder Ian Watson rued a “couple of minutes of madness” during the first half as his side saw their unbeaten away record at Chorley. Two goals in the space of three minutes from Magpies dangermen Darren Stephenson and James Dean left Spartans with an uphill task to get back in the game and the former Whitley Bay man was frustrated by the goals.
“They’re obviously a good side but we have matched them and it’s a couple of minutes of madness in the first half that have cost us. They put pressure on us and we couldn’t really cope with it but that’s the quality they have. If we could have kept it at one until the break we could have had a really good go in the second half at them”
Despite being overpowered by Chorley during the first half Spartans dominated the second period and probably deserved at very least a consolation goal. The likes of Matthew Wade, Phil Airey and debutant Lewis Horner all had chances and brought the best out of Magpies keeper Sam Ashton. However Watson was as frustrated as his team mates as luck escaped them.
“We played really well second half and really could have had a couple of goals but for their keeper making some top class saves. It just wasn’t our night to be fair. We applied pressure and had chances but if we could have got a goal we would have got something but it just wouldn’t fall for us”
During the second period Spartans got the ball down and displayed some flashes of the brand of passing football that has impressed so far this season. As this young side ease their way into life in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Watson was certain that the more they play that type of football the quicker they will develop.
“The more we get the ball on the floor and play it the better we will become. We have some proper footballers in this squad and we all enjoy playing the game the way Tom and Colin want us to play. It’s the best style of play for us to progress as a team going forwards”