Mickleover Sports v Blyth Spartans | Saturday, 21 September 2024 - 15:00 | League

By Callum Jacques

Spartans were beaten 4-0 at Mickleover with treacherous weather conditions bringing the game to a stop late into stoppage time.

Spartans had most of the possession in the first half but found themselves 2-0 down at the break after goals from Stuart Beavon and Dylan Edwards in the ninth and 44^th minutes respectively.

Marcus Barnes gave the home side their third of the afternoon shortly after the restart before Jahvan Davidson-Miller rounded off the scoring for Mickleover in the 91^st minute before the stadium was hit with some adverse weather.

Harrison Bond played a long ball forward in the third minute, but Billy Gordon couldn't bring the ball down.

Mickleover took the lead against the run of play in the ninth minute when Andy Dales broke down the left and picked out Stuart Beavon in space inside the area before he fired past Bond.

There was a stoppage in play in the 18^th minute as Mickleover player Daniel Bradley was injured and was substituted off for Brandon Ferron

Spartans dominated possession of the ball in the opening stages but failed to create any real chances although Mickleover goalkeeper Kieran Flavell took a risk with the ball, but he got away with it by avoiding the onrushing Nicky Deverdics.

Bond made a great save in the 38^th minute to deny Marcus Barnes a great goal. Barnes had cut inside and fired his shot from the edge of the box, but Bond was equal to it and tipped the ball onto the post.

The home side doubled their lead in the 44^th minute when Dylan Edwards dispossessed Louis Stephenson before running through on goal and firing low past Bond.

Half time: Mickleover 2-0 Blyth Spartans

Spartans had the worst possible start to the second half when Connor Pani pulled up injured running towards his own goal, Marcus Barnes took full advantage by picking up the loose ball inside the area and taking his time before picking his spot and firing past Bond. The injury Pani sustained led to the Spartans defender being stretchered off.

The game got back underway after a long stoppage following Pani's injury and Bond was forced into action once again in the 62^nd minute, this time to deny Dylan Edwards his second of the afternoon. Bond denied Edwards once again in the 69^th minute, this time from a tight angle following a quick break from the hosts.

Davidson-Miller scored the hosts fourth of the afternoon in the first of 12 added minutes. He was picked out after a cross from the right and made no mistake with the finnish.

The game was halted deep into stoppage time due to adverse weather conditions that included hail and a thunderstorm.

Full time: Mickleover 4-0 Blyth Spartans

Mickleover | Kieran Flavell, Jake Bennett, Cieron Keane (Toby Smith 89'), Curtis Weston © (Callum Moore 67'), Charlie Hickingbottom, George Taft, Dylan Edwards (Jahvan Davidson-Miller 76'), Daniel Bradley (Brandon Ferron 20'), Stuart Beavon, Andy Dales, Marcus Barnes (Justin Iwobi 89')

Goals | Stuart Beavon 9', Dylan Edwards 44', Marcus Barnes 47', Jahvan Davidson-Miller 90+1'

Blyth Spartans | Harrison Bond, Louis Stephenson, Joel Holvey (Greg Halford 46'), Zack Simpson, Ben Milburn, Connor Pani (Harrison Clark 50'), Michael Woods (Mitchell Curry 74'), Billy Gordon, Dan Savage, Joao Gomes, Nicky Deverdics ©

Subs not used | Charlie Aitken, Michael Hogan

Yellow Cards | Zack Simpson 81', Ben Milburn 83'

Attendance | 286

Referee | Jamie Conde

Assistant Referees | Simon King and Dean Steatham

Spartans next game is against Newcastle University's first team in the Northumberland Senior Cup on Thursday September 26 with a 7:30pm kick off, before Blyth return to league action on Saturday September 28, against Basford United at Croft Park with kick off at 3pm.