HALF TIME REPORT: Spartans 1-1 Barwell

In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 1-1 Barwell
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Tuesday 17th March 2015
Attendance:

Both sides traded early blows that really lacked punch and it wasn’t until the sixteenth minute when a severe blow was landed. A Barwell corner was cleared by Spartans and as Nigel Julian tried to play it into the area he was closed down by Michael Richardson. That allowed the midfielder to play Dan Maguire in on goal but the striker was closed dow by Declan Towers. However Maguire remained calm and rolled the ball to the advancing Jarrett Rivers with a sublime reverse pass. That released Rivers in on goal and he calmly stroked the ball past Liam Castle from just inside the area to give Tom Wade’s side the lead.

Maguire himself should have doubled Spartans lead with their next chance midway through the half. Damen Mullen fizzed a ball in behind the Barwell back four and that released Maguire, free of the shackles of the Canaries defence he looked to slide the ball past the advancing Castle but saw his effort slide agonisingly wide of the near post.

The visitors were rocking and again the livewire Maguire was at the heart of everything good in green and white. After finding himself some space in the area Maguire played Richardson in on the right hand side but the midfielder saw his rising, angled drive smash off the crossbar and rebound to safety.

The visitors equalised with their first real chance eight minutes before the break. A lovely piece of interplay between Canaries strikers Malcolm Melvin and Dominic Brennan allowed the latter to race through on goal and he kept to composure to roll the ball just inside Nick Thomson’s near post.

With half time approaching there was a massive appeal for a penalty from Spartans as Michael Richardson was brought down in the area. Dan Maguire burst down the left and played a cross into the midfielder, his first touch caused problems for the Barwell defence and there was a collision between Richardson and Declan Towers. However the official deemed it insufficient of a spot kick and the sides went into half time level.

Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Mullen, Watson, Hutchinson, Turnbull, Richardson, Dale, Maguire, Wade, Rivers Subs not used: Wearmouth, Lynch, Davis, Hawkins, Hooks Goals Rivers 16