Report by Phil Castiaux
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Saturday 5th December 2015
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division
Attendance: 414
Marine 0 – 2 Blyth Spartans
Kick off at Marine on Saturday was delayed by 30 minutes after the Blyth team coach arrived on Merseyside at 2.50pm.
The team’s journey was dogged by issues and incidents. The coach was hit by technical issues in Cumbria which led to it having to pull over twice in the wild weather on the heights of the A66 and M6. In apocalyptic scenes the roads and nearby fields were strewn with lorries and trucks on their sides like giant leviathans felled in battle. Fields were, in fact, lakes and threatening safe passage. In Kirby Stephen the rain water appeared to be running uphill as the world seemed turned upside down.
On arrival in Crosby, and following a rapid turnaround, Blyth named their team which welcomed back captain Robbie Dale and saw Danny Parker taking over from Dillon Morse in the centre of defence.
The visitors started the wind at their backs and despite a foreshortened warm-up took the game to Marine from the off. Sean Reid found Michael Richardson 25 yards from goal but he drove just wide of Matthew Cooper’s right hand post. Damen Mullen then fed Andrew Cartwright on Blyth’s right. His cross was met by Richardson 12 yards out but Cooper was down swiftly to save his shot. Cooper again came to Marine’s rescue saving a Maguire effort as Blyth continued to dominate.
The Spartans reaped the rewards for their efforts on 25 minutes when a mix up between Cooper and defender Liam Willis allowed a high ball to drop in to the path of Maguire and was smartly fired home from 10 yards.
Richardson came close after 30 minutes and Maguire just failed to find Robbie Dale after a strong run down Blyth’s right.
Marine were having difficulty creating anything of note in the final third of the pitch but ten minutes from the break centre forward Danny Mitchley fired wide of the Blyth goal with Spartans’ keeper Fabian Otte watching intently.
The second half started with Marine trying to assert some authority. Mitchley powered in to the Blyth penalty area, found Chad Whyte but he could only fire wide under pressure from the impressive Danny Parker. Whyte came close again when a cross was caught in the wind and Otte could only push the ball away but the Marine forward volleyed high over the bar. It was Whyte again troubling Blyth after 60 minutes but Spartans’ Ryan Hutchinson was quickly on hand to dispossess him as he lined up to shoot.
Despite those half chances Blyth continued to boss the game through a combination of stout defence and keeping the ball when in possession in Marine’s half.
Maguire picked out the on rushing Richardson and only a fine tackle by Alan Burton saved the day for his side. But Richardson’s persistency paid off after 79 minutes when he picked up a loose ball in midfield, advanced forward and then unleashed a thunderous 30 yard shot which found the back of Coopers’ goal via the cross bar.
Blyth ran out very worthy 2 – 0 winners after a thoroughly focused, controlled and professional display and the players could enjoy their Christmas night out in Liverpool happy in the knowledge of a job well done.
TEAMS:
Marine: 1. Matthew Cooper, 2. Mitch Duggan, 3. Stephen Wainwright, 4. Alan Burton, 5. Carl Peters, 6. Liam Willis (capt.), 7. Luke Holden (Lloyd Ellams 62), 8. Karl Clair, 9. Danny Mitchey, 10. Chad Whyte (James Short) , 11. Thomas Owens
Subs: 14. Sean Myler, 15. Sean Hussey, 17. Oliver Sharman
Blyth Spartans: 1. Fabian Otte, 2. Andrew Cartwright, 3. Jordan Watson, 4. Danny Parker, 5. Ryan Hutchinson, 6. Stephen Turnbull, 7. Michael Richardson, 8. Damen Mullen (Neal Hooks 20), 9. Daniel Maguire (Arran Wearmouth 86), 10. Sean Reid, 11. Robert Dale
Subs: 12. Alex Nicholson, 14. Paul Robinson, 17. Dillon Morse
Referee: James Mainwaring, Assistants: John Lowe, Nigel Anderson