In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 3-2 Whitby Town
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Tuesday 18th August 2015
Attendance: 403
Witton Albion may be sadly missing from the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division this season but another one of Blyth Spartans captain Robbie Dale’s favourite opponents are still around and didn’t the long-serving winger make the most of it.
There is something about Darren Williams’ side that brings out the best in Dale and at a cold, wet Croft Park he served up one of his most complete performances of his decade with the club to ensure that Tom Wade’s side made it six points from six in a rip-roaring affair in South East Northumberland.
Not that the plaudits should be limited to Dale, who stood effortlessly in the role of headline act, but nods of approval must be afforded to the industrious midfield duo of Matthew Wade and Stephen Turnbull, to the young back four who grew in stature and confidence as the game went on and to Dale’s fellow winger Arran Wearmouth, who looked a constant thorn in the side for the visitors.
And then there is the returning Dan Maguire. A first start since late April, a first ninety minutes of what is technically his second spell at the club and a performance of industry, class and the never-say-die spirit that has made him a firm fan’s favourite at Croft Park.
Whitby Town boss Darren Williams was afforded the luxury of naming an unchanged lineup after the Seasiders comprehensive opening day win at home to Stourbridge, a win that put them top of the league table, admittedly with the season in its infancy.
His Spartans counterpart Tom Wade was forced into three changes. Goalkeeper Adam McHugh replaced the injured Nick Thomson between the posts, Dillon Morse made a full debut in place of the unavailable Danny Parker and Maguire came in for the injured Paul Robinson, a move facilitated by a move-around in midfield involving Michael Richardson and Arran Wearmouth.
The game set off a lightening pace under the ash grey skies of Northumberland. The pitch sodden with the constant downpour that had continued for much of the day and in fairness it made for a better game.
With the first chance came the first goal as Maguire put Spartans ahead. Twelve minutes were on the clock when Wearmouth danced inside from the right before unleashing a low drive towards the near post.
That was too hot for Shane Bland to handle and the Seasiders number one could only parry to Maguire, who applied the finishing touches from close range.
Midway through the half came the equaliser and it would come from a penalty. Michael Roberts was released into the left hand side of the Spartan area and was upended by full debutant Morse.
The former Spennymoor Town man dusted himself off, or should that be dried himself off, before crashing the spot kick inside McHugh’s right hand upright, leaving the Spartans keeper with no chance.
From that point on it was all about Spartans as the Seasiders goal lived a charmed life. Robbie Dale and Nicholson were left frustrated by Bland, as he ensured the sides went into the interval on level terms.
There was to be no respite for the visitors backline with the opening exchanges of the second half. Chances came and frustrating were passed up by Wade’s rampant charges.
Maguire saw a shot saved by the legs of Bland within a minute of the restart, Nicholson fired over from the edge of the box and Dale smashed an angled drive into the side netting, his time would come.
But not before the visitors went ahead.
A free kick was awarded twenty five yards from goal and Roberts stepped up to double his tally for the night with a rising shot that McHugh could only fumble into his own net.
The lead was to last only six minutes as Dale came to the forefront of the game.
The equaliser came from a free kick, albeit one that was courtesy of a questionable award from the match official, not his only one of the night.
With Dale and Stephen Turnbull stood over the kick it seemed likely that the latter would be the one to try his luck. That theory was proven to be incorrect in the best possible fashion for Spartans as Dale smashed a low drive through the Seasiders wall and inside Bland’s near post to set Croft Park alight with relief and jubilation in equal measures.
The winger was at it again moments later as his jinked into the Town area and forced Bland into a smart stop at his near post. The ball rebounded off the keeper and hit Maguire, who then saw the ball drop agonisingly wide of the post.
With fourteen minutes left Dale won the game for Spartans as he rounded off a fantastic move that had its foundations down the right hand side. Alex Nicholson was afforded too much time to send a pinpoint cross in towards Dale who rose above a challenge to nod home from around ten yards out.
The closing stages were, as expected, hectic to say the least.
Maguire could and should have sealed the game with two minutes left after being released in on goal but he was denied, again it should be said, by Bland.
The visitors forced a number of corners in four minutes of injury time and from one of them came a big chance to snatch, what would have been, an equaliser that could have been seen as harsh on Spartans.
A quickly taken corner allowed Seasiders substitute Liam Shepherd to cut across the edge of the box before unleashing a drive that took a deflection.
McHugh, atoning for his earlier error, produced a flying save to secure all three points for Tom Wade’s men on a remarkable night at Croft Park.
Next up is another home fixture for Spartans as they entertain another of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division’s undefeated sides Buxton on Saturday.
Blyth Spartans: McHugh, Nicholson, Morse, Watson, Hutchinson, Turnbull, Richardson, Wearmouth (Mullen 77), Maguire, Wade, Dale Subs not used: Bramley, McNamee, Hooks, Reid Goals: Maguire 13, Dale 63 and 76
Spartans star man: Robbie Dale
Whitby Town:Bland, Hassan, Robinson, Bullock (McCarthy 55), Weledji, McTiernan, R Gardner (Shepherd 64), Gell, Roberts, Waters (Brown 70), Martin Subs not used: Pell, C Gardner Goals: None
Whitby Town star man Michael Roberts
Entertainment value: 5/5
Referee: Geoff Liddle