In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Skelmersdale United 1-4 Blyth Spartans
Saturday 27th September
Attendance: 250
FA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Who says romance is dead? Certainly not anyone at Blyth Spartans as they rekindled an affair with the FA Cup with a devastating performance that left Evo-Stik Northern Premier League high flyers Skelmersdale United heartbroken. Goals from Jarrett Rivers, Matthew Wade, Robbie Dale and Dan Maguire ensured it was Tom Wade’s side who will be in that hat as the Third Qualifying Round draw is made on Monday afternoon.
Injuries, suspension and unavailability forced the Spartans manager’s hand with a debut for right back Joel Dixon and a move to centre back for Ryan Hutchinson. That allowed Jordan Watson to shift to left back to cover for the unavailable Ian Watson. There was also a third Spartans debut for midfielder Stephen Turnbull.
A quiet start to the game saw Spartans settle quicker but the home side had the first chance as Danny Mitchley forced Peter Jeffries into a smart stop at his near post with just six minutes on the clock.
Spartans finally created a chance on twenty minutes as Turnbull’s pass to the edge of the area found the feet of Maguire. He took advantage of a slide by Bodie but could only fire over the bar from just inside the area. However the goal that Spartans quick start to the game deserved duly arrived on twenty five minutes.
Nathan Buddle seized on a loose ball and brought the ball out of defence. He found Robbie Dale who cleverly flicked on to find Jarrett Rivers. The winger found space inside the area and fired hard and low just inside the near post, although Skem keeper Fearon may feel he could have done more.
However rather than building on their lead Spartans were pegged back with eight minutes to go before the break. Several crosses into the area weren’t cleared sufficiently and Kenny Strickland smashed a wonderful twenty five yard effort into the top right hand corner of the net.
Spartans still could and maybe should have gone into the interval a goal to the good. Robbie Dale touched the ball to Maguire just inside the Skem half and his first time through ball released Rivers in on goal. After beating the offside trap the former Whitley Bay man set himself before rolling past Fearon but agonisingly his shot narrowly went past the left hand upright.
Spartans were forced into a change at the break as Dan Hawkins replaced the injured Neal Hooks in the midfield.
Within ten minutes of the restart Spartans gave notice of the remarkable half of football that was to follow as they took advantage of the high defensive line the home side were playing. It wouldn’t be the last time either.
Robbie Dale played a perfectly weighted through ball to release Maguire in on goal. The striker went around keeper Fearon but saw his shot bravely blocked by Robert Bodie, the rebound was then fired wildly wide by Maguire.
Showing rather more composure Matthew Wade ensured Spartans took the lead two minutes later. He was again played in behind the back four and after taking his time to size up the chance he curled the ball past the helpless Fearon and into the net.
A goal lead became a two goal lead on the hour mark and it was a moment of magic from Dale that effectively killed of the game. A quick free kick from Turnbull allowed the Spartans skipper to break towards the edge of the area. Dale played the ball around Wisdom before smashing low and hard into the far corner. It was a goal that produced a vociferous reaction from the Green Army and that noise wouldn’t stop.
The chances continued to come and Rivers squandered a golden one as he fired over after being played in on goal again by Dale. With fifteen minutes left on the clock Spartans were awarded a penalty as Dale was dragged down in the area by Wylie. Damen Mullen stepped up to take the spot kick but his low effort was saved well by Fearon down to his right hand side.
Spartans sent on loanee Jonathyn Quinn for his debut and within minutes he almost made a dream start but saw a half volley slide just past the far post. With two minutes left the hardworking Dan Maguire got the goal his graft deserved. A clearance from Buddle was misjudged by Bodie and that allowed Maguire in on goal and he made no mistake smashing the ball past Fearon and leaving the Skem keeper with no chance.
As the whistle went skipper Robbie Dale and manager Tom Wade led the Spartans players over to the Green Army to show their appreciation for the impressive performance off the park and the thanks was certainly reciprocated by the Spartan supporters.
All eyes turn to Monday’s Third Qualifying Round draw as Spartans move within two wins of the First Round draw. On this performance you wouldn’t rule out yet another chance for the cup traditions of the club to carry on against Football League opposition.
Teams
Skelmersdale United Fearon, Wylie, Wisdom, McIntosh, Bodie, Kirkbride, Thompson(Fernandes 77), Strickland, Mitchley, McCarthy(Sumner 57), Ince Subs: Golding, O’Reilly, Lloyd
Blyth Spartans: Jeffries, Dixon, J Watson, Buddle, Hutchinson, Hooks(Hawkins 45), Turnbull, Maguire, Wade(Mullen 74), Dale, Rivers(Quinn 82) Subs: Cummings, Wearmouth, Perez, Bell
Referee: Sam Mulhall