BY Stephen Burton
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
National League North
Saturday, November 30nd 2019
Blyth Spartans 0-6 Brackley Town
Blyth Spartans suffered their first home defeat since August 26 as a Lee Ndlovu hattrick helped Brackley Town to all three points in a comfortable win at Croft Park.
Captain Gareth Dean opened the scoring with a header from a corner on eight minutes, before Ndlovu poked home on 26 minutes and then grabbed a second two minutes before half time.
Wes York lashed in a fine finish 10 minutes after the interval and Ndlovu completed his hattrick to make it five on 65 minutes. York then rounded off the scoring with a diving header 10 minutes before the end.
Manager Lee Clark named an unchanged side from last weekend’s draw with Alfreton Town in the FA Trophy, with Adam Wrightson returning from injury to make the bench.
The visitors however, started the brighter and took the lead within the first 10 minutes. Dean did well to escape his marker before meeting a Shane Byrne corner with a pinpoint header into the top corner.
On 20 minutes Spartans had their first real opportunity through Callum Roberts. The winger weaved his way past a couple of men before curling over from the edge of the area.
Brackley then doubled their lead six minutes later, Hemming punched away a corner but could only find a red shirt and Ndlovu prodded the ball home.
The away side could have struck again after half an hour as Matt Lowe and Byrne combined to set up Ndlovu but he was denied well by Hemming.
However Ndlovu did not have to wait long for his second, putting Brackley three up two minutes before half time in somewhat confusing circumstances.
Olly Scott scuffed a clearance on the touchline and stumbled out of play, Brackley won the ball back and the ball was worked to Ndlovu who finished past Hemming.
The striker appeared to be some distance offside but the linesman deemed that he was played on by Scott, despite him being off the pitch.
Spartans began the second half well and Roberts had a fantastic chance to get his side back into the game but was denied by a good save from Danny Lewis.
But the revival was short-lived, though, as Brackley got their fourth, and arguably the goal of the game, on 55 minutes when York raced on to a ball over the top and lashed into the top corner from a tight angle.
The visitors showed no sign of letting up and the dangerous Ndlovu grabbed his hattrick 10 minutes later as he slotted home, before York rounded off the scoring on 80 minutes with a diving header to cap a miserable day for Spartans.
Blyth Spartans | Hemming, Evans, Callaghan, Scott, Ritson, Devitt, Hawkins (Wrightson 45’), Hunter, Sweet (Amantchi 64’), Roberts, Dale ©. Subs not used: Mullen, McGlade, Harker
Brackley Town |Lewis, Myles, Franklin, Byrne, Audel, Dean ©, Lowe, Murombedzi, Ndlovu (Daire 65’), York (Langmead 80’), Walker (Fairlamb 64’). Subs not used: Armason, Noon
Goals: Dean (8), Ndlovu (26, 43, 65), York (55, 80)
Attendance: 640
Referee: David McNamara