Blyth Spartans 2-1 Whitley Bay

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 2-1 Whitley Bay
Saturday 13th July
Croft Park
Pre-Season Friendly
Attendance: 226

Two goals in the first ten minutes from Dan Maguire and Joe Kendrick ensured that Spartans won their first home pre-season fixture against Northern League side Whitley Bay. However it was the performance of Spartans rather than the result that will give the Croft Park faithful reason for cautious optimism as the new season approaches.

A lightening quick start from Spartans saw them take the lead within three minutes and it was hitman Maguire who notched for the third consecutive pre-season game. Midfielder Matthew Wade latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the visitors area and played a perfectly weighted through ball to Maguire. The diminutive front man took a wonderful first touch that made it easy for himself to slot the ball past the advancing Carmichael with ease. The lead would be doubled just five minutes later and it was a goal of the highest quality.

Maguire was involved again as he played a one two with Joe Kendrick. With nothing much else on Spartans skipper Kendrick coolly chipped Carmichael with his right foot from around twenty yards. The effort seemed to take an eternity to go in but it was a sublime finish from the Irishman. Just after the ten minute mark the lead could have been further extended as home debutant Dean Holmes came within a whisker of getting on the end of Robbie Dale's cross from the right hand side.

It was all about Spartans during the first half and the midfield three of Wade, Hubbard and Hooks had full control of the game. It was the latter who set up the next chance on the half hour as he played an intricate ball to Maguire on the edge of the box but the striker saw his left foot effort well saved by Carmichael. The pace of the game naturally slowed down with the heat around Croft Park and with no further action Spartans held on to their two goal lead at the break.

A slow start to the second period saw neither side create much until ten minutes in when the Seahorses striker Chow dragged a shot wide of newly arrived Spartans keeper James Howarth's far post. Just after the hour mark Chow made no mistake as he made the most of some defensive hesitancy from Spartans and finished well past Howarth to cut Spartans lead in half.

Half time had seen Tom Wade introduce striker Rob Nolan into the action and he nearly built on his midweek hat-trick against Killingworth as he span his marker and sent a low effort just past the far post. Spartans were slowly finding their feet during the second half and Maguire was at the heart again seeing a goalbound shot blocked with twenty minutes left.

He brought the best out of Carmichael soon after that attempt, latching on to a through ball from Lee Mason only to see the Seahorses keeper smother his shot. The final action of the game came with ten minutes left as Maguire returned the favour to Mason who was denied by what seemed like the hand of Bay defender Novak but the spot kick appeals were waved away. A largely uneventful final ten minutes was played out and Spartans opened their home pre-season campaign with a well earned win.

Spartans next pre-season fixture is another meeting with Whitley Bay as we make the short trip along the coast next Saturday for a 3pm kick off at Hillheads.

Blyth Spartans:

Grant, Airey, Trialist, Trialist, Kendrick, Wade, Hooks, Hubbard, Dale, Holmes, Maguire

Subs:

Donnelly, Nolan, Mason, Tobin, Garrity, Howarth

Scorers:

Maguire 3, Kendrick 8

Whitley Bay

Carmichael, Brooking, Novak, Anderson, MacFarlance, Downey, Fairley, Blake, Davis, Chow, Watson

Subs

Convey, Anthony, Fawcett, MacBride, Baker, Watt, Perry

Goalscorers

Chow 62