Blue Brazils hand Spartans first pre-season defeat

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 1-4 Cowdenbeath
Saturday 12th July
Croft Park
Pre-Season Friendly
Att: 266

On the face of it this will look like a heavy defeat for Spartans but there were plenty of positives during the defeat to Cowdenbeath for Tom Wade's men. An disciplined first half show saw them take a lead into half time, buoyed by the impressive debut of Ben Sayer and the dangerous link up play of Dan Maguire and Robbie Dale. A fractious second half took place with Wade making nine changes and the clinical finishing of the visitors led to them sealing the win.

The first chance fell to Spartans as early as the third minute as Jarret Rivers touch allowed Dan Maguire to curl towards the far post but his shot just went wide. The pressure continued and when Ben Sayer switched play he allowed one of Spartans trialists to break forward from right back and unleash a twenty five yard effort just over the bar.

The visitors first chance came on twenty minutes as Nat Wedderburn brought the ball out of defence and after a quite one-two was in on goal. However he was forced wide by the pressure of Spartans Trialist keeper but centre back Wedderburn rolled the ball back to Lewis Milne but the alert defending of Danny Parker saw the former Bishop Auckland man clear off the line.

Spartans came roaring back and felt that they should have taken the lead on thirty four minutes, only to be denied by the linesman's flag. Robbie Dale's intricate through ball released Dan Maguire in on goal and the striker made no mistake as he delicately dinked the ball over the advancing keeper. His celebrations were cut short as the linesman's flag went up on what must have been a borderline decision.

On thirty eight minutes Spartans got the goal that their impressive first half deserved. Ian Watson's ball down the line found Dale who played an incisive one-two with Maguire. That allowed Dale to get into the area and after turning Brownlie he coolly slotted home. That was a lead Spartans held on to until half time.

Nine changes were made during the interval with only Nathan Buddle and Danny Parker staying on. One of the new men Dan Hawkins almost extended Spartans lead just three minutes into the half but the striker saw the twenty yard effort swerve just wide of the far post. Hawkins was at the heart of the play again on the hour mark. Finding space on the right side of the area the former Bishop Auckland man chipped to the far post and that was met by the head of Arran Wearmouth. His header from point blank range brought an excellent stop from Beath keeper Thomson.

The visitors got back in the game on sixty seven minutes as Nathan Buddle's slip allowed Craig Johnston to place the ball expertly past Niall Harrison, although the Spartans keeper got a hand to the ball he couldn't stop it going in. Eight minutes later the Beath were ahead as captain John Armstrong met a corner from the right with a looping header that nestled just under the bar.

With ten minutes remaining Spartans had a great chance to get on level terms through Paul Robinson. The former Whitley Bay midfielder twisted and turned on the edge of the area, giving him just enough space to unleash a vicious twenty yarder that was tipped over the bar by Thomson.

The visitors took over the game in the last ten minutes and Chris Kane extended their lead with seven minutes remaining with a cool finish from just inside the area. To put a truly flattering look on the scoreline the Beath grabbed a fourth with just four minutes on the club. Some sloppy play in midfield led to a break and Johnston grabbed his second goal, rolling past Harrison expertly from ten yards.

So a disappointing look to the scoreline but Spartans will look to the positives as they continue their building towards the new season. Next up is the visit to Croft Park of Shildon on Tuesday night.

Blyth Spartans:

Trialist, Trialist, Parker, Buddle, Watson, Sayer, Horner, Wade, Rivers, Dale, Maguire

Subs:

Harrison, Trialist, Trialist, Cummings, Hooks, Robinson, Trialist, Moore, Wearmouth

Scorers:

Dale 38

Cowdenbeath:

Flynn, Miller, Adamson, Brownlie, Armstrong, Wedderburn, Robertson, Milne, Trialist, Trialist, Stewart

Subs

Brett, O'Brien, Campbell, Kane, Callaghan, Johnston, Branch, Thomson

Goalscorers

Johnston 67 and 86, Armstrong 75, Kane 83