In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant
Blyth Spartans 4-0 Ramsbottom United
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Tuesday 24th February 2015
Attendance: 364
A wonderful team display from Blyth Spartans helped them extend their unbeaten run to eight with a comfortable win over Ramsbottom United. Goals from Jarrett Rivers, Matthew Wade, Robbie Dale and Jordan Watson’s first goal for the club gave Tom Wade’s side a richly deserved three points.
There was almost a perfect start for Spartans as Dan Maguire’s persistance saw him steal the ball from Lee Pugh on the byline, before cutting back for Michael Richardson. The former Newcastle United midfielder chose to try his luck first time but was denied by a smart stop from Rams keeper Grant Shenton and Robbie Dale could only send the rebound wide from a difficult angle.
There was to be no denying Spartans on four minutes as Dale created the first goal of the night for Jarrett Rivers. Captain Dale danced down the left, bamboozling George Boyer, before sending the ball across the face of goal. Maguire narrowly missed out on getting the decisive touch but that allowed Rivers to slam the ball home at the far post and put his side deservely one goal up.
Spartans were unrelenting in their pressure and on seven minutes Richardson had another great chance. Alex Nicholson burst forward from his right back position and rolled the ball back to the midfielder but he curled a right foot effort wide of the far post from twenty yards.
The visitors were rocking and Spartans kept pushing them back. On twelve minutes Stephen Turnbull accepted a return pass from Richardson before curling an undefendable ball across the face of goal, that was met by a flick from Ryan Hutchinson but the centre back could only send it just past the near post.
A second goal seemed almost inevitable. A promise that was kept on twenty minutes as Matthew Wade doubled Spartans’ lead. A viciously struck corner from the right wing Turnbull was met by an equally ferocious header from Wade for his third goal of the season. Croft Park roared their appreciation at one of the most impressive opening spells to a game in many a year at the famous old ground.
Things got from bad to worse for the visitors with just two minutes to go until half time. After earlier being booked for a foul on Jarrett Rivers, Rams player manager Jon Robinson was shown a second yellow card for a pull back on Maguire. That was to be the final action of the half and Croft Park sounded it’s approval at an impressive opening half from Tom Wade’s men.
Twelve minutes into the second half Spartans extended their lead further with a goal of such sublime quality that it wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Champions League games that were taking place at the same time as this fixture. A wonderful crossfield pass from Dale found Rivers down the right hand side. He cut in from the wing and beat two challenges before rolling the ball back to Dale just inside the area. The Spartans captain then curled a exquisite right foot effort into the top right hand corner of the net with Shenton grasping at thing air.
Three almost became four minutes later as Dale and Rivers combined again for, what would have been, another wonder goal. It was Dale who turned creator this time as his inch perfect pass inside Lee Pugh released Rivers in on goal. He checked back in on his left foot and tried to curl into the far corner but a flick off Malachi Slaven sent the ball against the crossbar and away to safety.
As Spartans maintained their pressure chances came and went without success. With ten minutes remaining a Turnbull free kick from the right was met by the head of substitute Arran Wearmouth but he could only send his effort over the bar from twelve yards.
Tom Wade’s side got the fourth goal that their dominance deserved as Jordan Watson got off the mark in a Spartans shirt. Another Turnbull corner from the right found it’s way to Watson and the Northern Irishman crashed home from around the penalty spot via a deflection on the line, although the former Sunderland youngster will have no worries about the goal being taken off him.
It was nearly five alive for Spartans as the clock ticked into injury time as another substitute Craig Lynch, played Maguire in on goal but the striker’s effort was tameand Shenton saved comfortably. However, apart from statistical reasons, it meant little and Spartans were given a rapturous ovasion as referee Matthews blew the final whistle and set Tom Wade’s side up for Saturday’s home fixture with Stamford.
Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Mullen, Watson, Hutchinson, Stp Turnbull, Richardson (Lynch 75), Dale (Dale 65), Maguire, Wade (Hooks 58), Rivers Subs not used: Perez, Stv Turnbull Goals Rivers 4, Wade 20, Dale 57, Watson 88
Ramsbottom United: Shenton, Boyer, Pugh, Slaven, Robinson, Harrop, Abadaki, Burke (Edghill 82), Gaskell, Rother (Heron 20), Brooks (Hartley 72) Subs not used:
Referee: Mr Mathews