As we take a break from the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League to start our FA Cup campaign it’s worth noting that Spartans have posted some impressive stats when it comes to goalscoring and the amount of goals in games we have played.
With six games gone Spartans have scored sixteen goals, with nine of them coming at Croft Park and seven being scored on opposing grounds. This is the highest in the league and one more than both league leaders Marine and fourth placed Ashton United. Compared to last season it took Spartans sixteen Blue Square North fixtures to score sixteen goals with the sixteenth coming on the 15th November in a 1-2 defeat at Vauxhall Motors.
If you compare it with the last season Spartans spent in the Northern Premier League in 2005/06, we took twelve league games to hit the sixteen goal mark when on the 4th of October Robbie Dale netted in a 3-2 win at Frickley Athletic.
Spartans six games so far have produced a total of twenty six goals when you add the ten conceded. Of those ten, there is an even split with five conceded at Croft Park and five coming in away fixtures. The total of twenty six goals is the joint highest in the league with Stocksbridge Park Steels, although its worth pointing out eight of their twenty six were scored by Spartans. This all means that Spartans have taken part in matches that have seen an astonishing average of 4.33 goals per game
In terms of our goalscorers we have five players who have found the net so far. Robbie Dale and Craig Farrell both lead the way with five each, then comes left back Joe Kendrick with three, of which two were penalties and the other was his wonderful twenty five yard free kick against Marine. Former Newcastle United striker Phil Airey has a pair of goals coming in consecutive games at home to Hednesford Town and at Whitby Town whilst centre back Jordon Mellish has pitched in with a solitary strike which came in the 5-0 win at Croft Park over Stocksbridge Park Steels. Farrell, Dale and Kendrick all have scored braces so far but we are still awaiting the first Spartans hat-trick of the season.
If you are watching the club this season it seems you may want to get to the game on time and ensure you stay until the final whistle goes as Spartans have been quick out of the block with three goals in the first seven minutes of the game. Phil Airey scored his two goals against Hednesford Town on three minutes and Whitby Town on six minutes whilst Joe Kendrick’s penalty against Marine was timed at seven minutes. Planning on leaving the match early? Probably best you don’t because incredibly of the twenty six goals, eight have come in the last ten minutes of a game with three of those in injury time.
Spartans three Croft Park fixtures so far have come against Stocksbridge Park Steels, Hednesford Town and Marine and have produced fourteen goals so its safe to say that there has been some entertainment on show at Croft Park this term.
The next visitors to Croft Park are Evo-Stik First Division North side Garforth Town who we entertain in an FA Cup First Qualifying Round fixture this coming Saturday.