In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Matlock Town 1-1 Blyth Spartans
Tuesday 1st April
Autoworld Arena
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 207
A brave and determined performance from an under strength Spartans saw them deservedly come away from Matlock Town with a late point. Ash Davis’ eighty fifth minute equaliser got Tom Wade’s side back on level terms when it seemed that everything was going against them.
Neal Hooks, Damen Mullen, Dan Maguire and Arjun Purewal were all missing and Lewis Horner was only fit enough to take a place on the bench. That meant Ryan Cummings came into the centre of midfield and Ian Watson switched to right back to accomodate Joe Kendrick on the opposite side of defence. There were first appearances in the squad for former Seaton Delaval duo Michael Scott and Ryan Hutchinson as they were named on the bench.
Spartans had the first chance of the game as Arran Wearmouth’s neat flick released Ash Davis on the left hand side of the area. The former Whitley Bay forward struck a low drive across goal but it was well saved by Gladiators keeper Jon Kennedy. From the clearance Shaun Tuton found himself in on goal but volley wide from ten yards.
The game turned scrappy with neither side managing to take control although the hosts wasted a golden chance to grab the lead just before the half hour mark. A back post free kick from Joe Leesley found Cecil Nyoni but the midfielder could only drive into the side netting from a narrow angle.
Ten minutes before the half time whistle Spartans had two chances to take the lead although they were handed to them by their hosts. A Wearmouth cross was deflected narrowly wide of the near post by Oscar Radford with Kennedy stranded. From the resulting corner Paul Robinson crossed and Radford headed back towards his own goal but Kennedy parried it clear to ensure the deadlock remained unbroken at the interval.
A lively start to the second half saw Spartans on top but the first real chance fell to the Gladiators. A brave stop at the near post from Conor Grant denied Tuton as Mark Atkins side looked set to celebrate the opener.
Spartans hit straight back though and Wearmouth danced past Leesley on the right but his fierce drive across goal failed to find a team mate who would have had a simple finish.
Twenty minutes into the second half the home side took the lead with a neat free kick from substitute James Ashmore, although Spartans had more than a valid claim against the free kick being awarded. Ryan Cummings was adjudged to have fouled Corey Gregory when the young midfielder seemed to have won the ball.
Ashmore stepped up and curled over the wall and into the top left hand corner. That was the first away league goal Spartans have conceded in three hundred and thirty five minutes.
However a dogged Spartans kept plugging away and almost grabbed an equaliser with five minutes later. Kennedy parried a Robinson corner from the right and the loose ball ran to Kendrick. His flick seemed set to nestle in the net but was cleared off the line by Oscar Radford. Soon after there was a debut for Ryan Hutchinson as the former Seaton Delaval man replaced Matthew Wade in the heart of the Spartans midfield.
However the frustration of missed chances didn’t last long and with five minutes left Ash Davis got his first league goal since his return to the club. The striker had endured a frustrating night but as he chased his own flick on he pressured Adam Yates, who dallied on the ball. That allowed Davis to flick the ball over Kennedy who got a touch on the ball but couldn’t prevent it bobbling into the net to ensure Spartans returned to Northumberland with a deserved point.
Spartans Man of the Match: Danny Parker
Matlock TownKennedy, Broadhead, Leesley, Foster, Radford, Yates, Needham, Nyoni(Ashmore 55), Gregory, Tuton, White Subs not used: Bradshaw, Wilkinson, Leese Goalscorers Ashmore 65
Blyth Spartans: Grant, Kendrick, Watson, Buddle, Parker, Wade(Hutchinson 75), Robinson, Davis, Wearmouth, Cummings, Dale Subs not used: Bonket, Scott, Horner Scorers: Davis 85
Referee: Mr M Connell