Blyth Spartans 2-1 Matlock Town

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 2-1 Matlock Town
Saturday 5th January
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Attendance: 311

On a day when everyone connected with Blyth Spartans paid tribute to former captain Arthur Sowden, it seemed only fitting the current Spartans skipper played his part in the win over Matlock Town as Wayne Buchanan got the opening goal and put in a man of the match performance. Buchanan scored his second goal of the season to set his side on their way to their first win since mid November as Paddy Atkinson's side put in a real team performance to complete the league double over the Gladiators.

Following the expiry of their loans from Newcastle United both Marcus Maddison and Michael Riley were unavailable so Atkinson recalled Joe Kendrick to his line up and once again Ryan McGorrigan was given the nod to partner Andy Jennings in the Spartans front line.

The visitors could and probably should have taken the lead in the first two minutes as a cross from right back Micky Harcourt found the head of Massiah McDonald but his effort from eight yards was straight at Spartans keeper Conor Grant. It would take until the quarter hour mark for Spartans first chance and it fell to Robbie Dale as the winger latched on to a Neal Hooks pass inside full back Radford and fired into the side netting from just inside the box. As the game settled down the Gladiators squandered a golden chance when winger Joe Leesley was sent in one on one with Grant but couldn't find a way past the Spartans number one whose touch sent the ball over the bar.

It was a miss that Spartans punished in the best possible manner. Corner kicks haven't been the greatest provider of goals for Spartans this season with only one goal scored from a corner until today but just as with Jordon Mellish's headed effort against Stocksbridge Park Steels it was a quick one two that did it from the flag kick. Joe Kendrick and Neal Hooks combined from a quickly taken corner kick that saw the former send over an inch perfect cross. That found the head of Spartans skipper Wayne Buchanan who headed home powerfully from ten yards out. Buchanan celebrated with his Spartans team mates in front of the Port of Blyth Stand with the famous rocking baby celebration dedicated to his new baby girl Faith, who was attending her first Spartans game.

Spurred on by their goal Spartans nearly doubled their lead on the half hour mark when Andy Jennings laid a long ball off to Damen Mullen and the winger crashed an effort from twenty yards that was well saved by Town keeper Jon Kennedy at his near post. Mullen had another chance moments later as he fired just past the angle of post and cross bar from a narrow angle. As half time approached Spartans may have expected a big push from the Gladiators but apart from a twenty five yard grasscutter from Leesley that was easily saved by Grant, there wasn't much danger of an equaliser before the break.

In fact that lead could have been doubled when a Shaun Utterson cross found it's way to Mullen who hit the post from twelve yards out. The ball rebounded into the hands of Town defender Yates but referee Campbell waved away vociferous appeals for a penalty from all inside Croft Park. That would be the second time inside two minutes that the official incurred the wrath of the Green Army as he missed an off the ball elbow by Town defender Harcourt on Joe Kendrick. Spartans would go into the interval with their lead in tact and were good value for that.

In his last two games Ryan McGorrigan has scored two wonder goals and nearly made it three in three within minutes of the restart. Collecting a pass on the right hand side he cut in from the wing and curled a left foot effort from fully twenty five yards that whistled past Kennedy's far post. Within minutes the visitors were level as Harcourt broke into the right hand side of the Spartans area and lashed the ball across the Spartans six yard box. Richie Slaughter was the unfortunate one who couldn't react in time and the ball deflected of the Spartans defender and into the roof of the net. Surprisingly with the game in the balance neither side really took the initiative as the game turned scrappy. That would be until the sixty sixth minute when Spartans took the lead once again.

Neal Hooks won a ball in midfield and found Robbie Dale on the right hand side. Dale was given time to advance into the Gladiators area and duly punished them as his wicked cross was deflected into his own net by long serving Town centre back James Lukic. That would be a lead that Spartans would have to work to keep and that was exactly what they would do. Some resolute defending backed up by a hardworking midfield meant that chances were limited for the visitors. In fact barring several crosses to deal with Conor Grant only had one real save to make in the closing stages. That save was however one of the highest order as he threw himself across his goal to tip a Phil Roe effort from twenty five yards around his left hand post. Spartans had chances to kill of the game with substitute Phil Airey coming close on two occasions in injury but Atkinson's side comfortably rode out injury time for a hard earned but nonetheless deserved win.

Spartans Man of the Match:

Wayne Buchanan

Blyth Spartans:

Grant, Utterson, Slaughter, Buchanan, Kendrick(Mason 90), Mullen, Vipond, Hooks, Jennings(Stanger 68), McGorrigan(Airey 82), Dale

Subs not used:

Donnelly, Maguire

Scorer:

Buchanan 25, Lukic(o.g) 66

Matlock Town:

Kennedy, Harcourt, Radford(Grayson 69), Foster(Ellington 78), Yates, Lukic, Leesley(Hazel 64), Ashmore, McDonald, McMahon, Roe

Subs not used:

Gaughan

Goalscorers

Slaughter(o.g) 51

Referee:

Stuart Campbell