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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 4-1 Stamford AFC
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Saturday 28th February 2015
Attendance: 462
For the second time in a week Blyth Spartans entertained the Croft Park faithful by smashing home four goals. This time Stamford were the opposition, or should that be victims, as Tom Wade’s side coasted home with a display of lethal finishing and were helped out by one of the most comical own goals seen at Croft Park in many a year. However the win was acheived meant little as Spartans increased their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions.
Spartans had the first real chance of the game in the seventh minute, although it came after some pressure from the away side. Jarrett Rivers skipped into the right hand side of the Daniels area before laying back to striker Dan Maguire who tried his luck with a first-time right foot effort but it was comfortably saved by Andrew Stevens.
The game settled into a malaise and the only point of note was the bemusement from both sides towards a number of questionable decisions made by referee Simon Clayton. The slumber was broken on the half an hour and in some style too as Spartans took the lead.
Robbie Dale found the run of the overlapping Damen Mullen, who was given time to break into the left hand side of the Stamford area. His cross was partially headed clear by Lewis Carr but only as far as Matthew Wade. The midfielder struck his second goal in five days with a wonderful right foot volley from twenty yards that left Stevens motionless between the posts.
Nick Thomson was forced into action for the first time ten minutes before half time as he denied Ryan Robbins when the Daniels striker was played in on goal. Robbins looked cool and composed but the alert goalkeeping of Thomson meant that the striker was closed down and his shot blocked by the chest of the Spartans number one.
There was a big shout for a penalty by the Spartans faithful but not for the first time during the game, they were left annoyed by the official. Dan Maguire broke through into the left hand side of the Daniels area and was pulled down by Carr, the majority of those inside a blustery Croft Park appealed for the spot but after a long pause, referee Clayton waved away the vociferous protests.
Maguire was at the heart of the action again minutes before the break as he almost doubled Spartans lead. The striker collected a return pass from the lively Jarrett Rivers and managed to hold off two Daniels defenders. That allowed him time to turn in the area and fire a left foot drive from ten yards that Stevens smuggled around the near post and out for a corner.
Wade was forced into a half time substitution as Jordan Watson pulled up with what looked like a tight hamstring during the first half. That was disagnosed at half time and Dan Hawkins replaced the Northern Irishman during the break. That meant the former Bishop Auckland man playing at right back with Alex Nicholson moving to centre back to partner Ryan Hutchinson.
Spartans started the second half on top and they almost doubled their lead three minutes into the half. Jarrett Rivers produced a magical run into the Daniels area as he ghosted past three challenges and in on goal. However the vistors keeper Stevens stayed on his feet, meaning Rivers had to delay his shot and the Daniels number one parried it away for a corner.
That lead was doubled in somewhat comical circumstances as Lewis Carr put through his own net on the hour mark. However maybe the assist should go to the Croft Park pitch. Under pressure from Dan Magire, Carr attempted a pass back to keeper Stevens, however the ball bobbled over the foot of the Daniels keeper and into the net.
Five minutes later Spartans had their third with another goal of the highest quality. Jarrett Rivers found some space midway inside the Daniels half and he found the run of Dan Hawkins. The full back was given time to pick out a fine cross to the far post and that allowed Michael Richardson to slide home from a narrow angle.
Within a minute the visitors had pulled one back. Daniel Clements broke down Spartans left and cut inside the challenge of Hawkins before firing a low drive inside the near post and past the despairing dive of Thomson.
If that had created any doubt in Spartans mind then that was dispelled with eight minutes remaining. Stephen Turnbull effortlessly turned away from a challenge in midfield before playing the ball out wide to Hawkins. The full back took a touch before firing a wonderful ball in behind the Daniels back four. That allowed Dan Maguire to beat Stevens to the ball and lift a chip over the head of the visitors keeper to the delight of the majority inside Croft Park.
One feature of the Spartans performance had been the non-stop running of Michael Richardson and the midfielder was given a standing ovation when he was replaced by Steven Turnbull just after Maguire’s goal.
It was almost five up for Spartans with four minutes remaining as Robbie Dale produced a bit of magic. The winger danced into the area but he was denied by a brave block from keeper Stevens as the Spartans captained looked set to hit his twenty first goal of the season.
However Spartans declared at four and when referee Clayton brought proceedings to an end he allowed Wade and his players to leave the pitch to a rapturous ovasion, and rightly so. The quality of passing and finishing that was on display showed why, although games in hand are still to be accounted for, Spartans are very much in the play-off chase and with every win, belief and confidence grows.
They now face a true test of their play-off credentials as Ilkeston travel to Croft Park on Tuesday night.
Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Mullen, Watson (Hawkins 46), Hutchinson, Stp Turnbull, Richardson (Stv Turnbull 83), Dale, Maguire, Wade (Hooks 70), Rivers Subs not used: Wearmouth, Lynch Goals: Wade 30, Carr o.g 60, Richardson 65, Maguire 83
Stamford: Stevens, Clarke, Fox, McGowen, Carr, Batchelor, Challinor, Lawlor, Fitzgerald (Meade 58), Clements, Robbins Subs not used: Bettles, Staff, Gould
Goals: Clements 67
Referee: Simon Clayton