Report by Phil Castiaux
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division
Saturday 26th March 2016
Stamford 0 – 1 Blyth Spartans
Blyth came away from Lincolnshire on Saturday with three points and their leadership of the Evo-Stik Premier League intact.
A 1-0 victory over Stamford was a hard worked one but nevertheless deserved.
The Spartans went straight on to the attack with a mazy run by Aaron Wearmouth setting up Daniel Maguire but the striker slipped and the half chance was lost. A fine ball from returning midfielder Matthew Wade picked out Robbie Dale on Blyth’s left and his low drive was well collected by veteran keeper Paul Bastock in the home goal.
Stamford could well have taken the lead after nine minutes but Jake Duffy fired well over the bar from just inside the box. The Daniels pressed forward and it needed a good diving save by Blyth’s Adam McHugh to deny Ollie Luto.
Stamford’s lone striker Greg Smith was making his physical presence felt, sometimes fairly and other times not but it was the visitors who were taking the game to their hosts.
Dale fired narrowly over from 20 yards before Bastock could only parry away a further Dale effort. It fell to Maguire but his early shot was cleared away for a corner. Dale was a constant nuisance to the Stamford defence and it needed a well judged Tom Batchelor header to clear another of the Spartans Captain’s efforts.
McHugh was called in to action to dive at Curtis Hartley’s feet as Stamford looked to create something on the break but just before the interval a wicked Dale low cross just eluded the on-rushing Michael Richardson at the far post.
The Spartans came out after half time maintaining a good tempo and controlled passing style with Matthew Wade and Damen Mullen the epitome of calm assuredness in the middle of the park.
Richardson came close to breaking the deadlock but the bounce of the ball beat him when he appeared to be in with a shooting opportunity. Marauding fullback Alex Nicholson had a stinging drive only just dealt with by Bastock before Wearmouth tested the keeper once again with a 30 yard drive which Bastock did well to tip over the bar.
Blyth’s pressure told after 60 minutes when a surging run from midfield by central defender Nathan Bubble saw him fire well from distance. Once again Bastock failed to collect cleanly and Maguire was on hand to calmly stoke the ball home from three yards out to put the Spartans ahead.
The home keeper continued to be the focus of the game as Nicholson again was denied by the goal keepers’ fumbled clearance.
The Daniels made three substitutions with 25 minutes remaining and it produced their best, albeit short-lived, spell of the encounter.
Sam Hill shot well over from 20 yards and Greg Smith, acrobatically, swivelled and shot towards goal but he couldn’t keep the ball down and it sailed well clear of McHugh’s bar.
However Blyth resumed the initiative and Maguire found himself in a one versus two scenario on the edge of the penalty box. The striker did well to get a shot away but it was cleared. Bastock went on to save well from Kneeshaw before the home keeper again foiled Maguire.
Mullen looked likely to extend Blyth’s lead in the final five minutes but he drove his shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Attendance: 485
TEAMS:
Stamford: 1. Paul Bastock (capt.), 2. Taron Hare, 3. Ollie Luto, 4. Paul Malone, 5. Tom Batchelor, 6. Jon Challinor (14. Jack Wightwick 65), 7. Curtis Hartley (12. Lee Beeson 65), 8. Sam Hill, 9. Greg Smith, 10. Jake Duffy, 11. Sam Downey (17. Callum Rzonca 65)
Unused subs: 15. Jordan Smith, 16. Jake Newman
Blyth Spartans: 1. Adam McHugh, 2. Alex Nicholson, 3. Jordan Watson, 4. Nathan Buddle, 5. Dillon Morse, 6. Damen Mullen, 7. Aaron Wearmouth (15. Andrew Cartwright 85), 8. Michael Richardson (12. Wilson Kneeshaw 57), 9. Daniel Maguire, 10. Matthew Wade (17. Sean Reid 76), 11. Robert Dale (capt.)
Unused subs: 14. Danny Parker, 16. Paul Robinson
Referee: Matthew Wilkes, Assistants: Antony Glazzard and Matthew Perry