Spartans rue missed chances as Robins take the points

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cima-mip-logo-2.jpgBlyth Spartans 0-1 Ilkeston FC
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Tuesday 3rd March 2015
Attendance: 452

Spartans were handed their first defeat in nine games and their first home reverse since September as Ilkeston ground out a win at Croft Park. Tom Wade’s side were left to rue a missed penalty by captain Robbie Dale as Robins striker Michael Williams gave his side the points with a clinical late finish.

The opening twenty minutes saw both sides playing the attractive brand of football they have become renowned for in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League. However, despite their endeavour, there was nothing to warm the hands of those inside Croft Park, other than some gentle applause for the energy on display from both sets of players.

The first real chance of the game came in the twenty fifth minute as Jarrett Rivers produced a wonderful reverse pass to play Alex Nicholson into the right hand side of the area. The former Newcastle United academy defender pulled the ball back to Dan Maguire but as the Robins defence expected the striker to fire a shot at goal, he stepped over it, allowing Michael Richardson to have an opening. The midfielder looked to set to put Spartans in front but was denied by a brilliant, last ditch tackle by the visitors captain Joe Maguire.

Ten minutes before the break it was Rivers again causing Kevin Wilson’s side problems. The winger was fed out wide by a brilliant pass from Stephen Turnbull and his first time cross just evaded the head of Dan Maguire as the striker looked set to hit his twentieth goal of the season.

As the half drew to a close Spartans threatened once more and it should be no surprise to anyone reading that it was Rivers who had the chance. The winger was fed into the right hand side of the area once more and managed to turn past a weak challenge from Jack Lane before forcing Jordan Smith to smother his low drive at the near post.

So the opening half ended goalless in a game that flattered to deceive. The visitors for all of their possession created little, Spartans with their chances failed to convert in front of a bitterly cold Croft Park faithful waiting to be warmed up.

The visitors almost went ahead in the sixty fifth minute after another desperately quiet start to a half. A corner from the left from Danny Gordon was aimed at the near post and flicked goalwards by Michael Williams, however the alert defending of Alex Nicholson preventing the Robins from going ahead as he cleared from the line to safety.

Buoyed by their first real chance the visitors came again. This time it was substitute Eddy Samba who caused the Spartans back four problems as the striker found space on the right hand side of the area. His right foot drive was tipped around the near post by Thomson and the resultant corner was easily cleared by Spartans.

Spartans were awarded a penalty in the seventy fourth minute as some neat interplay between Rivers and Maguire allowed the latter to cross to the near post. That found Michael Richardson and the midfielder beat Joe Maguire to the ball but the Robins captain brought the Spartans midfielder to the floor and referee Conley awarded a spot kick. Robbie Dale stepped up to take the kick but fired it over the crossbar to the relief of the visitors bench.

That penalty miss was punished in the eight second minute as the Robins took the lead with a goal from Michael Williams. Danny Gordon broke forward from right back and was given time to float a cross into the area. Danny Parker was caught under the ball and that allowed Williams took take a touch before firing into the net via the underside of the crossbar.

Spartans came back at the visitors as a ball into the area was only cleared as far as Rivers. The winger cut in on his left foot before firing at goal from the edge of the area, however his rising shot was comfortably saved by Robins keeper Smith.

That was to be it in terms of Spartans efforts to get back on level terms and they will look back on several missed opportunities throughout the game. However the visitors grew in confidence as the game wore on and a clinical finish from Williams sent the points back down to Derbyshire.

Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Mullen, Parker, Hutchinson, Stp Turnbull, Richardson (Lynch 85), Dale, Maguire, Wade (Hooks 85), Rivers Subs not used: Wearmouth, Stv Turnbull, Cummings Goals

Ilkeston: Smith, Gordon, Lane, Wright A, Maguire, Gorman, Morgan, Chettle, Duffy (Samba 56), Williams, Wright J Subs not used: Baker, Bako, Burrows, Fortnam-Tomlinson Goals: Williams 82

Referee: Helen Conley

Posted by BSAFC Admin