Report by Jonathan Lillico
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Saturday 19th December 2015
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division
Attendance: 523
Blyth Spartans 4-3 Stourbridge
On a very wet Saturday afternoon at Croft Park Blyth Spartans put on a Christmas Cracker to beat Stourbridge who were placed 11th in the Northern Premier League prior to the game.
The Spartans made two changes from the team that beat Frickley away 3-2 in mid week with Alex Nicholson coming in for Andrew Cartwright at right back and Stephen Turnbull replacing Neal Hooks in central midfield.
The game kicked off with Stourbridge taking the game to Blyth with energetic, high tempo play stifling the Spartans and preventing the type of performance which has seen the free scoring Croft Park side rise to the summit of the Northern Premier League.
Karl Hawley and Justin Richards linked up well to stretch the Spartans defence on a number of occasions and an early opportunity for Blyth saw a through ball to Dan Maguire contested by Stuart Pierpoint which resulted in the Spartans forward being withdrawn through injury and replaced by Arran Wearmouth.
On 13 minutes a Ben Billingham high ball in to the box was headed past Fabian Otte with some ease to put Stourbridge 1-0 up and two minutes later a dominant Stourbridge saw another cross headed by Justin Richards beyond Otte to give the visitors a deserved 2-0 lead.
An impressive 523 attendance on the last Saturday before Christmas were jolted in to life by the tenacious Stourbridge and the Spartans players responded with full on high energy attacking play featuring Aaron Wearmouth and Robbie Dale having success down the flanks.
On 33 minutes a loose ball running out of the box was somehow reverse hooked back in to the area by Dale and the incoming Sean Reid powered a header past Stourbridge goalkeeper Charlie Price to reduce the deficit and seven minutes later Dale again received the ball on the right and a jinking run in to the box had the visitors defence in turmoil. Dale’s low shot in to the far corner saw the hosts level at 2-2.
Croft Park hardly had time to draw breath when Chris Lait powered through the Spartans midfield and his hard 25 yard shot rebounded back off the cross bar to drop nicely for Karl Hawley to slide the ball past a helpless Fabian Otte and put the visitors 3-2 up on 41 minutes to give the visitors a half time lead.
The second half started with increasingly heavy rain and a swirling wind. Nevertheless a determined Blyth Spartans lay siege on the Stourbridge goal with Reid, Wearmouth and Dale being a constant threat to the visitors and a Dale free kick into the Stourbridge wall saw hand ball appeals turned down by referee Barry Gordon.
Although Spartans pushed forward a Stourbridge team, one of the best sides at Croft Park this season, were capable of an upset, which the first half demonstrated, but the Blyth centre back pairing of Danny Parker and Ryan Hutchinson coped well with the visitors forward line as did full backs Jordan Watson and Alex Nicholson whilst also supporting the wing play.
In the 68th minute a Stourbridge attack was broken down by a Stephen Turnbull, Matty Wade and Michael Richardson combination. The resulting attack lead to a through ball to Sean Reid who calmly took the ball around Stourbridge goalkeeper Price who was adjudged to have brought down the impressive midfileder and the referee pointed to the spot and issued a yellow card in the process.
Stephen Turnbull placed the ball on the spot then put it to the keeper’s left hand side pulling the game level at 3-3.
In the last 20 minutes Stourbridge were finding it hard to contain the rampant Spartans. Some resolute defending and fine goalkeeping saw a succession of Blyth corners and attacks thwarted and with referee Barry Gordon indicating five minutes additional time Blyth left it till the 95th minute to secure victory when a strong Alex Nicholson run in to the box saw his drive fly past Price in to the Stourbridge net to lift the roof off Croft Park.
As the final whistle blew both players, management and staff celebrated a 4-3 win against a very good Stourbridge team who took the game to Blyth. The win maintains Blyth’s eight point lead at the top of the Northern Premier League with Spartans travelling to fellow title contenders, and third placed, Workington on Boxing Day and hosting fifth placed Darlington at home on Monday 28th December 2015 kick off 3:00pm.
Blyth Spartans really do have the X Factor!
Top of the league – Congratulations to them on their ‘Christmas No1’
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Blyth Spartans: 1. Fabian Otte, 2. Alex Nicholson 3. Jordan Watson, 4. Danny Parker, 5. Ryan Hutchinson, 6. Stephen Turnbull 7. Michael Richardson, 8. Sean Reid 9. Daniel Maguire (14 Arran Wearmouth 5) 10. Matthew Wade, 11. Robbie Dale (C)
Unused subs: 12. Neal Hooks, 15. Dillon Morse, 16. Andrew Cartwright, 17. Paul Robinson.
Stourbridge: 1. Charlie Price, 2. Kristtan Green, 3. Dan Scarr, 4. Louis Harris, (14. Drew Canavan 59) 5. Brian Smikle, 6. Stuart Pierpoint (C) 7. Matt Dodd, 8. Ben Billingham, 9. Karl Hawley, 10. Justin Richards, 11. Chris Lait, (15. Mark Wright 89)
Unused Subs: 12. Chris Knight, 16.Tyree Clarke, 17. Louis Clifton
Referee: Barry Gordon
Assistants: William Bennett and Malcolm Hogarth