Report by Connor Bromley
In association with:
Alan McLean FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Consultant
Vanarama National League North
Saturday 24th March 2018
North Ferriby 1-0 Blyth Spartans
Jordon Cooke provided a hammer blow to Blyth’s playoff hopes as bottom-of-the-table North Ferriby won a closely-fought affair.
The Villagers rode their luck throughout the game as Blyth wasted their opportunities – though the fact that Ferriby keeper Ross Durrant was given the man of the match suggests that Blyth did everything but score.
The defeat leaves Blyth sixth in the table and clinging onto a playoff space by a point. North Ferriby are already relegated but completed their first double of the season and their first home victory of the season.
Spartans made three changes to the side that lost one month ago to Leamington. Ben Liddle, David Atkinson and Dale Hopson came in for Kieran Green (returned from loan spell), Michael Liddle and Macaulay Langstaff.
Blyth started the game brightly by dominating possession but could not find the breakthrough they were looking for.
Middlesbrough loanee Ben Liddle crossed for Nathan Buddle in the second minute from a corner, but his effort was headed over from close range.
The visitors then saw Ryan Hutchinson’s header thwarted from close range after Hopson fired a set piece into the area with 12 minutes played.
North Ferriby had their first real effort of the game which was fired wide by Jordan Harrison from 20 yards.
With 19 minutes played Blyth nearly broke the deadlock. A free-kick from the right-hand side resulted in a goalmouth scramble in which Nathan Buddle shot wide from close range.
A series of Blyth corners were defended well by the hosts and on 28 minutes Ferriby nearly scored themselves as Brett Ritchie was on the receiving end of a good passing move only to see his shot fired wide.
Dan Maguire had a relatively quiet first half, but burst into life on 33 minutes as Hopson played him in down the right-hand side. The England C International fired a vicious effort, which was saved splendidly by Villagers goalkeeper Ross Durant.
Maguire thought he broke the deadlock on 39 minutes as he struck a sliding finish from Hopson’s pass but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside.
In the 42nd minute, the referee Samuel Barrott looked to have sustained a serious knee injury and was stretchered off – delaying the game by 15 minutes.
Tony Young turned from Spartans fan to linesman – stepping in to run the line.
The second half saw Blyth continue their first-half dominance, but the visitors struggled to turn their possession dominance into goals. In the 50th minute, Jarrett Rivers nearly broke the stalemate as he was played through by Hutchinson – but his effort was well saved by Durrant.
Spartans continued to pressure the Ferriby goal but they could not find a way past the home side’s defence. Dale fired a shot from a tight angle at the edge of the six-yard box into the side netting on 54 minutes.
The turning point for Blyth undoubtedly came with the hammer-blow of losing Maguire to what looked like a nasty ankle injury on 57 minutes. He limped off and was replaced by Langstaff.
Ferriby finally gave their fans something to cheer on 60 minutes as Cooke was given the freedom of the box to head home from close range into the bottom left corner. Ferriby had looked dangerous from set-pieces all game and were rewarded for another excellent delivery from Forrester.
Blyth huffed and puffed after the goal with the bounce of the ball not falling their way.
The Villagers nearly added a second goal on 70 minutes as Nichols ran in on goal – but Atkinson stopped him with a tremendous last-ditch tackle.
Possibly the best chance for the visitors landed at Sean Reid’s feet as he was played in by Langstaff. Reid did all he could to score but Durrant stopped him with a magnificent close-range save.
With 89 minutes on the clock, Ferriby nearly sealed the victory as Lewis Collins capitalised on a Nathan Buddle’s mistake to run in one on one with Peter Jameson. In a battle of wits, Jameson came on top as Collins tried to round him – but the Blyth stopper read his intentions and stopped the striker.
Five minutes were added much to the bemusement of the home faithful and Blyth always looked like they would get a final chance.
That chance arrived in the 95th minute as Rivers played in Langstaff.
The Gateshead loanee fired an effort from 20 yards which shot just past the left-hand post as Ferriby picked up their first home win of the season.
Spartans: Peter Jameson, David Atkinson, Ian Watson, Sean Reid, Nathan Buddle, Ryan Hutchinson, Jarrett Rivers, Ben Liddle, Daniel Maguire, Dale Hopson, Robbie Dale (C).
Subs: Macaulay Langstaff, Damen Mullen, Joseph Borman, Jordan Laidler, Shaun MacDonald
North Ferriby team: Ross Durant (C), Jordon Cooke, Jack Walters, Paul Robson, James Piercey, Jack Mail, Jordan Harrison, Jamie Forrester, Brett Agnew, Lewis Collins, Luke Lofts
Subs: AJ George, Lewis Exall, Alex Bannister, Bobby Johnson, James Nichols
Referee: Samuel Barrott. Assistants: Martin Ashworth, Johnathon Bickerdike.
Attendance: 367