Stocksbridge Park Steels 1-1 Blyth Spartans

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Stocksbridge Park Steels 1-1 Blyth Spartans
Monday 26th August
Look Local Stadium
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 191

Spartans striker Rob Nolan jumped off the sick bed to make sure that Tom Wade’s side preserved their unbeaten record with an injury time equaliser against Stocksbridge Park Steels. The former North Shields front man had spent most of Sunday night vomiting but it was Steels who were feeling sick after his poachers finish ensured Spartans gained a much deserved point. In fact that was the very least they deserved after dominating the second half in particular.

There were two changes to the Spartans lineup following Saturday’s thrilling 3-3 home draw with Worksop Town. Lee Mason and Craig Hubbard replaced Dan Maguire(knee) and Matthew Wade(hip) with the young duo taking their place on the bench.

It was Steels who started the game on top in the baking Bank Holiday heat and striker Nathan Joynes had the first chance of the game. The former Matlock Town man span Arjun Purewal on the edge of the Spartans box and curled a sixteen yard effort wide of Conor Grant’s far post. Robbie Dale had Spartans first chance in the thirteenth minute as he saw his low effort from just inside the box deflected just wide of the post by Will Senior. From the resulting corner Purewal flicked a header at goal that just evaded two onrushing Spartans players and dropped agonisingly wide.

On twenty minutes Dale had a golden chance after a neat through ball from Arron Wearmouth released the front man and he forced a good stop out of Ben Scott after shrugging off the attentions of Liam Royles. The heat was taking effect on both sides and the pace of the game dipped notably as the clock ticked towards the half hour mark. Prior to which a Mason corner caused havoc in the home defender and Danny Parker flicked an effort against the woodwork before the danger was cleared.

Just after the half hour mark the home side took the lead and there was more than a hint of fortune about the goal. Winger Chris Bettney crossed from the right hand side and the flight of the ball deceived Conor Grant and dropped just inside the far post. As seems normal this season Spartans were awarded a penalty five minutes before the interval after Dale had been clipped by Senior inside the area. That’s the fourth spot kick in four games but unlike in the previous three Joe Kendrick couldn’t make it count. The Irishman sent Scott the wrong way but his effort crashed off the crossbar.

They had more than a decent shout for a second spot kick two minutes later after Wearmouth had danced past Royles before seemingly being pulled back by the full back but referee Mark Dwyer was unmoved amongst enthusiastic appeals. Maybe annoyed at a sense of injustice Spartans switched off on the stroke of half time and were grateful to Conor Grant who produced a good stop to deny Chris White after the striker had broken the offside trap.

After the break Spartans took complete control and created a good chance just ten minutes in. Dale had broken away down the right hand side and played the ball back to Damen Mullen on the edge of the area. The midfielder took one touch before curling a left foot effort that was headed just over the bar by Steels defender Senior. From the corner kick Nathan Buddle got about everyone only to see his header cleared off the line by Nicholas Swirad.

Wade introduced Dan Maguire with twenty five minutes left and he was soon at the heart of the action forcing Scott into a brave stop after playing a one-two with Robbie Dale. Maguire turned provider soon after as he released Neal Hooks with a clever chipped pass but the midfielder’s volley was parried away from danger by Scott. Spartans made two more substitutes as they went in search of a deserved point with Matthew Wade and Rob Nolan replacing Craig Hubbard and Arron Wearmouth.

With time slipping away from them they pushing further forward with the home side camped deep inside their own half. Something had to give and that was exactly what happened in the first of three injury time minutes. A long clearance found Robbie Dale and his flick dropped nicely ahead of Maguire. The pacey forward showed his bravery to jump ahead of the oncoming Scott who had rushed from his goal line and the loose ball fell kindly for Rob Nolan who picked the perfect time to net his first competitive Spartans goal with a cool finish from a narrow angle.

That goal meant Spartans go into Saturday’s home clash with Matlock Town looking to finish off the first month of the season unbeaten and will do so in front of another noisy Croft Park crowd. This young side is still in it’s infancy but there were more signs of their battling qualities at the Look Local Stadium, something that will stand them in good stead ahead of tougher tasks that lie in wait over the coming months.

Spartans Man of the Match: Arjun Purewal

Stocksbridge Park Steels Scott, Royles, Travis, Swirad, Senior, Callery, Bettney(South 60), Knowles, White(Akiester 78), Joynes, Turner(Hamshaw 45) Subs not used Denton, Davies Goalscorers Bettney 31

Blyth Spartans: Grant, Buddle, Parker, Purewal, Kendrick, Mullen, Hooks, Hubbard(Wade 70), Wearmouth(Nolan 78), Dale, Mason(Maguire 65) Subs not used: Airey, Cummings Scorers: Nolan 90+1

Referee: Mark Dwyer