Report by Phil Castiaux
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Techflow Group Northumberland Senior Cup, Semi-Final
Wednesday 16th March 2016
Attendance: 515
Heaton Stannington 0 – 6 Blyth Spartans
Blyth proved too strong for Northern league Heaton Stannington in this semi-final of the Northumberland Senior Cup.
The Spartans ran out 6-0 winners at Grounsell Park on Wednesday evening.
The visitors took the game to The Stan from the start with home keeper Matt Smith making a good save from Daniel Maguire before an Aaran Wearmouth cross found Sean Reid but his shot was blocked and cleared.
Heaton responded with Dean Imray denied by a diving save from Fabian Otte, the Blyth keeper, and Danny Parker flung himself in front of Ryan Bailey to prevent the midfielder having a shot on goal.
However it was the Spartans who went on to have the best of the play. Reid neatly placed a low shot into the corner of Smith’s net from 20 yards to put Blyth ahead after 22 minutes. On 31 minutes a Dillon Morse header from a Damen Mullen corner extended the lead. Within a minute Michael Richardson scored a spectacular goal. The Spartans midfielder picked up the ball only a yard into the opposition half and, seeing Smith off his line, shot with precision and power over the keeper and in to the goal.
Blyth continued to press but former Spartan Adam Rowntree did hit the Blyth bar after 35 minutes after receiving a clever ball from Matt Hayton.
The first half ended with Reid, Richardson and Cartwright all sending efforts high or wide of the home goal.
Immediately after the restart Alex Nicholson was put through by Wearmouth and he calmly placed the ball into the net to put Blyth four up. The home side manfully continued to apply themselves and, against the run of play, Hayton brought out a good save from Otte.
Blyth’s Neal hooks and Reid failed to hit the target before, after 83 minutes, Daniel Maguire skilfully turned his defender and fired powerfully high in to the net with Smith helpless. The Spartans wrapped up an impressively dominant and consistently high tempo showing when Nicholson got his second goal of the game with a cross shot which dropped unerringly over Smith’s head and in to the goal.
Following the match, as a gesture of good will, Blyth donated their share of the gate receipts to The Stan.
Team: 1. Fabian Otte, 2. Andrew Cartwright, 3. Jordan Watson (14. Alex Nicholson 45), 4. Danny Parker, 5. Dillon Morse, 6. Neil Hooks, 7. Michael Richardson, 8. Damen Mullen, 9. Daniel Maguire, 10. Sean Reid (15. Wilson Kneeshaw 70) , 11. Aaran Wearmouth ( 16. Robert Dale (capt.) 59)
Unused subs: 12. Paul Robinson, 13. Ashley Davis
Referee: Paul Brown, Assistants: Adam Nichol and Darren Wylam