Report by Michael Bowers
In association with:
ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountants
Saturday 14th November, 2015
FA Trophy, 2QR
Croft Park, Blyth
Attendance: 643
Blyth Spartans 1 – 0 Whitby Town
Blyth progressed to the third qualifying round of the F.A. Trophy after a tight 1-0 win against rivals Whitby Town on Saturday.
Damen Mullen’s second-half goal proved to be the difference in a flat and edgy game in which neither side really played well.
But it’s now Blyth’s third win in a row against Whitby from all three meetings this season, having already done the double over them in the Evo-Stik League.
The hosts started the game in nervous fashion at the visitors started with attacking intent high up the field and Whitby were unable to capitalize on a miss hit Fabian Otte clearance.
Joshua Neirney twice threatened to break the deadlock early on after he was unchallenged but ultimately didn’t trouble Otte.
Club legend Robbie Dale was at the heart of things at the other end as he drilled the ball across the six-yard area but no Spartan was able to connect with the ball before he produced a superb cross only for Daniel Maguire to head wide from six yards out.
David McTierman also fired over from inside the penalty area to cap off a half where Whitby were the better side yet not dominant but it was roles reversed after the break.
Matthew Wade and then Dale both had efforts as their side came out more threatening towards Shane Bland’s goal before the decisive moment of the match.
Full-back Damen Mullen took control of the ball on the right side of Whitby’s third of the pitch and ran with it near to the six-yard area before slotting the ball past Bland to wild celebrations from most inside Croft Park. Mullen, clearly buoyed by the goal, got into a dangerous position again but was quickly closed down and could only tamely pass to Bland.
Former Spartan Richard Pell had a headed effort just go over the bar following a set-piece for the visitors before Blyth substitute Sean Reid almost made an immediate impact with a well-hit effort just flashing past the post.
Fellow substitute Liam Manderville wasted Whitby’s best chance of the game when he fired a shot towards goal from six yards and were it not for a crucial block it probably would have been 1-1.
As the final whistle approached Blyth continued to press forward and Reid just couldn’t connect with a loose ball from two yards but in the end it didn’t matter.
TEAMS:
Blyth Spartans: 1. Fabian Otte, 2. Damen Mullen, 3. Jordan Watson, 4. Dillon Morse, 5. Ryan Hutchinson, 6. Stephen Turnbull, 7. Alex Nicholson (Andrew Cartwright 80), 8. Michael Richardson (Sean Reid 70), 9. Daniel Maguire, 10. Matthew Wade, 11. Robert Dale (capt)
Subs: 12. Neal Hooks, 14. Danny Parker, 17. Paul Robinson
Whitby Town: 1. Shane Bland, 2. Joshua Neirney, 3. Mark Robinson (Keiron Weledji 66), 4. Richard Pell, 5. Liam Shepard, 6. David McTierman, 7. Lee Mason (Liam Manderville 58), 8. Lee Bullock, 9. Michael Roberts, 10. Mathew Waters (Ross Gardner 72), 11. Ryan Brobble
Subs: 14. Adam Gell, 17. Thibault Charnley
Referee: Barry Gordon, Assistants: David Carr and Stephen Birkett