FC United of Manchester 3-0 Blyth Spartans

In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

FC United of Manchester 3-0 Blyth Spartans
Saturday 30th November
Gigg Lane
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 1690

FC United of Manchester leapt above Spartans and into a play off position with a comprehensive victory at Gigg Lane. The Rebels dominated proceedings and had it not been for some poor finishing from the home side and a couple of outstanding stops from Conor Grant it could have been even worse for Tom Wade’s side and the travelling Green Army.

Wade made two changes from Wednesday’s Northumberland Senior Cup victory at Bedlington Terriers, one of which was forced. Damen Mullen and Sonny Andrews came in for Danny Parker and the suspended Ash Davis.

The home side started on the front foot and captain Dean Stott was first to try his luck with a twenty first yard strike that whistled past Grant’s far post. Next up was the ever dangerous Astley Mulholland. The tricky winger was a constant thorn in the side for Spartans and on ten minutes he curled a twenty yard free kick just over the cross bar. Spartans were under constant pressure and only some dogged defending was preventing the home side taking the lead.

Conor Grant produced his first outstanding stop midway through the half diving full length to parry a vicious Tom Greaves piledriver to safety. If that save was impressive then Grant’s next one surpassed that. Greg Daniels robbed Matthew Wade of possession twenty five yards out before unleashing a low shot that seemed destined to nestle just inside the near post. However Grant got a strong hand to the drive and tipped it onto the post and out for a corner.

Ten minutes before half time Spartans resistance was broken but to the annoyance of Tom Wade it was a set piece goal that put the Rebels ahead. A feature of the first half had been Liam Brownhill’s dangerous inswinging corners and he finally landed one onto the head of Tom Davies who made no mistake from eight yards. It was a lead the home side more than deserved for their dominance that quite simply penned Spartans back.

Grant continued his good form with a spectacular save to prevent Stott what would have been a goal of the season contender. The Rebels captain struck a first time volley from all of twenty give yards that the Spartans keeper was equal to as he tipped the ball away. Remarkably for all of the pressure they were under Spartans almost went into the break on even terms only to be denied by the linesman. A Robbie Dale volley towards goal saw Joe Kendrick divert the ball into the net only to see the goal chalked off for offside.

To their credit Spartans started the second half in a much better fashion and almost grabbed an equaliser ten minutes in. A far post corner from Dan Maguire saw Matthew Wade head back towards goal but Stott denied him his fourth goal of the season clearing off the line. That was temporary respite for Spartans though and the Rebels doubled their lead twenty minutes into the second half. An error from Damen Mullen presented the ball to Mulholland who capitalised with an inch perfect through ball to Greg Daniels who made no mistake by sliding the ball past the advancing Conor Grant.

The home side were in complete control and at times seemed to be toying with Spartans. In particular wingers Mulholland and Matthew Wolfenden were exceptional and in Tom Greaves they have one of the top strikers in the league. It was the latter who, in the eighty fourth minute finally killed off a game that in all honesty had been over since Daniels goal. The striker made an incisive run that was rewarded with a killer through ball by Callum Byrne. Greaves never looked like missing and he dinked over Grant with a coolness that summed up everything the front man is about.

As injury time came the home side spurned two chances to really make things embarrassing for Spartans. Byrne crashing against the near post with a wonder strike from twenty five yards and Stott firing a penalty over the bar after Nathan Buddle was penalised for a trip on Rebels substitute Nelson Mota. Some would say Spartans got off lightly with three but the defeat should put into perspective just how much hard work Wade and Myers have ahead of them. It’s been a fantastic start to the season for Spartans as they sit sixth in the league going into December. With pre-season talk of a relegation battle that in itself should be lauded but this defeat should ensure feet are kept on the ground for this young side and everyone connected with Blyth Spartans.

Spartans Man of the Match: Ian Watson

FC United of ManchesterWorsnop, Stott, Brownhill, Birch, Davies, Raglan, Wolfenden(Fox 81), Daniels, Greaves(Giggs 86), Byrne, Mulholland(Mota 71) Subs not used Rodriguez, Lacy Goalscorers Davies 34, Daniels 65, Greaves 84

Blyth Spartans: Grant, Mullen, Kendrick, Buddle, Watson, Wade, Horner(Wearmouth 81), Robinson, Dale, Andrews(Hubbard 71), Maguire Subs not used: Parker, Purewal, Hooks Scorers: None

Referee: Alan Hull