Blyth Spartans 1-4 Morpeth Town

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 1-4 Morpeth Town
Tuesday 30th July
Croft Park
Attendance: 212
Pre-Season Friendly

If there was an complacency setting in at Croft Park after a largely positive pre-season it was well and truly blown away by Northern League side Morpeth Town. The Highwaymen were physically stronger and made that count to ensure they won the game comfortably.

Spartans named a much changed lineup from Saturday's win over Clitheroe and the level of change on the playing staff over the summer could be shown by the fact that from last season's squad only Lee Mason and Dan Maguire were in the starting lineup tonight.

There was an early warning of what was to come for Spartans as the visitors came within a whisker of taking the lead on four minutes. Striker Anderson was sent through on goal only to be blocked by Spartans trialist goalkeeper. It took some time for Tom Wade's side to click into gear and it was a Rob Nolan twenty yard free kick that forced Town keeper Rooks into his first action of the game, smothering the former North Shields striker's low effort.

The visitors were showing greater urgency and had a great chance to take the lead just before the half hour mark. A quick free kick from Anderson found fellow front man Taylor but he could only lash an effort past the angle of bar and post from the edge of the box. There was no reprieve for Spartans on thirty five though as a wonderful cross from full back Henderson saw Anderson head the Highwaymen into the lead.

That lead was doubled just before the break when Spartans back four were caught sleeping as a long ball released Taylor and he comfortably finished when one on one with the keeper. It meant his side took a two goal lead into the break that nobody could argue they deserved.

The first notable chance of the second period fell to Spartans as Dan Maguire lashed a swerving effort from the edge of the box that was tipped over by Rooks. However the away side were back on top minutes later with another goal for Taylor. Joe Kendrick seemed to be the victim of an over the ball challenge that saw the ball roll through to Taylor and he crashed a low effort into the far corner to extend his side's lead.

Two minutes later Spartans got a goal back and it was Maguire who was the man to get it, although it owed much to a superb through ball by Damen Mullen. Playing in a midfield role Mullen found himself on the right hand side and played an intricate ball inside full back Patterson to release Maguire. The striker took one touch and finished low inside the near post for his third goal of pre-season.

However a crazy spell of the game was rounded off just two minutes later as the visitors restored their three goal lead and sealed the game with the goal of the night. Substitute Hutchinson smashed a superb effort home from all of twenty yards to leave Spartans with a near impossible task to get back into the game. They did try to get back in and should have got at least one back just after the hour as Maguire curled just wide of the far post after Cummings had laid the ball off inside the box.

Spartans were left agrieved with fifteen minutes left after the referee failed to spot a blatent trip on winger Lee Mason as the former Hartlepool United man burst into the penalty area after good work from Robbie Dale. The final chance of the game fell to Spartans with ten minutes left as Maguire again was fed in the box but dragged his shot wide of the far post and ensured that the visitors took a deserved win back to Craik Park with them. For Spartans there is a chance to put this behind them as they continue to build towards the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League season when Newcastle Benfield come to Croft Park this coming Saturday.

Blyth Spartans:

Trialist, Buddle, Purewal, Parker, Trialist, Mason, Holmes, Wade, Cummings, Nolan, Maguire

Subs:

Donnelly, Dale, Mullen, Grant, Howarth, Garrity, Tobin, Kendrick, Trialist

Scorers:

Nolan 10 and 86, James o.g 66, Mullen 89

Morpeth Town

Rooks, Henderson, Patterson, Grant, Tumilty, Hiftle, Keenan, Fry, Anderson, Taylor, Fenwick

Subs

Chilton, Wells, Hutchinson, Swanson, Jules, Hall, Wilson, Darwent, Dunn

Goalscorers

Anderson 35, Taylor 43 and 52, Hutchinson 56