In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
North Shields 4-3 Blyth Spartans
Saturday 2nd May
The Daren Persson Stadium
Pre-Season Friendly
Attendance: 221
Spartans got their pre-season campaign underway losing by the odd goal in seven against Northern League side North Shields. Spartans management team Tom Wade and Colin Myers took the opportunity to look at two trialists in what was a rather slow paced fixture, hardly surprising given the sweltering temperatures at the Daren Persson Stadium.
A sloppy start to the game saw the Robins take the lead on the tenth minute with Gareth Bainbridge firing home from just inside the box. The former Ashington front man connecting well with the ball and leaving Conor Grant with no chance. However it wouldn’t take long for Spartans to get back on level terms as a Darryll Donnelly cross from the right was headed into his own net by Shields defender John Parker. Just after the twenty minute mark Wade’s side nearly took the lead and would have but for a wonderful piece of goalkeeping from the hosts’ keeper, who is actually on trial at Spartans. A quick corner from the left saw a Robbie Dale cross headed at goal by Jordan Mellish, who saw his effort acrobatically tipped over by the stopper.
The keeper prevented Dan Maguire from carrying on last season’s good form just after the half hour mark with a solid stop at the near post after the striker had turned his marker just inside the box. The Robins took the lead on the brink of half time as Wrightson played a clever ball into the box for left back Grey. After taking one touch to steady himself the defender fired across Grant and into the far corner of the net to ensure his side went into the break level.
With the increasing temperatures taking hold of the players and really testing their fitness levels the second period started in a somewhat pedestrian fashion and it took until the hour mark for any serious action. That action would come in the form of a home goal as a cross from the left found it’s way to Bainbridge who headed his second of the game from around eight yards out. Spartans should have pulled one back five minutes later as former Shields striker Rob Nolan flicked to Craig Hubbard inside the box but the midfielder could only send a low shot past the far post.
They would pull one back on sixty six minutes and it was a debut goal from young midfielder Ryan Cummings. A neat flick from Hubbard saw the ball fall to Cummings on the edge of the box and his wonderfully struck low volley sailed into the bottom corner of the hosts’ net. The two goal lead that the Robins had earned should have been restored just five minutes later but winger Walker just failed to connect with a ball to the far post. He would however make no mistake ten minutes from time with a low finish from eight yards after an earlier shot had hit the post.
The final action of the game came just a minute from time as Nolan collected a ball on the edge of the box and saw his low shot parried by the keeper. The loose ball fell to Dan Maguire who made no mistake from eight yards out.
Spartans next pre-season fixture is their first at Croft Park with Whitley Bay making the short trip along the coast next Saturday for a 3pm kick off.
North Shields Trialist, Elliott, Grey, Trialist, Hughes, Parker, Richardson, Foster, Bainbridge, Wrightson, Walker Subs Donnison, Robinson, Smart, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist Goalscorers Bainbridge 10 and 60, Grey 44, Walker 77
Blyth Spartans: Grant, Donnelly, Airey, Mellish, Kendrick, Hooks, Mullen, Mason, Dale, Wade, Trialist Subs: Nolan, Maguire, Cummings, Holmes, Hubbard, Trialist Scorers: Parker o.g 11, Cummings 66, Maguire 89