Blyth Spartans 2-2 Whitby Town

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 2-2 Whitby Town
Wednesday 26th December
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Attendance: 322

Spartans put together a Christmas cracker of a comeback as two goals in the space of two second half minutes ensured they gained a hard earned draw against Whitby Town. In a match where it seemed former Spartans striker Graeme Armstrong was set to help his new side take all three points, it was down to two current Croft Park forwards to seal a point with two stunning finishes. New boy Andy Jennings started off the comeback with a cool thirty yard chip and that was quickly followed by Ryan McGorrigan's twenty five yard volley that will be remembered for a long time to come by those in attendance. However Paddy Atkinson and his side will look back at several late chances to snatch the win as the Seasiders defence gifted them chance after chance in the closing stages.

Atkinson handed debuts to midfielder Craig Hubbard and Newcastle United loanee Michael Riley. Also back in the squad were Neal Hooks, Phil Airey and Ryan McGorrigan although the latter had to make do with a place on the bench. Spartans were only without Joe Kendrick who was unavailable for the game, meaning Richie Slaughter would start at centre back alongside skipper Wayne Buchanan.

It would be the visitors who took the lead with the first chance of the game and it would be Spartans old boy Armstrong who made no mistake as he latched on to a loose pass from Riley and curled his shot from the edge of the box past a static Conor Grant. Five minutes later he nearly doubled his own tally and the Seasiders lead as he latched on to a pass from his player manager Williams and forced Grant into a smart stop low down at his near post. Finally Spartans got into the game on fifteen minutes when Robbie Dale flicked a long punt from Grant into the path of Andy Jennings. The tall striker turned his marker on the edge of the box but dragged his shot just past the near post. It was Dale himself who had the next chance as Phil Airey forced Town keeper Liversedge into a rushed clearance that feel to the Spartans winger forty yards from goal. Dale struck the loose ball goalwards but his effort just went past the near post with Liversedge in no mans land.

On the half hour mark the visitors did double their lead and it was Armstrong again but once again it would be a Christmas present handed to him by the Spartans defence. Slaughter weakly headed a long ball and only managed to find Seasiders forward Mulligan and the right hand side of the area. He took a touch and rolled the ball to Armstrong who curled past Grant again from the edge of the box. As Spartans went looking for a root back into the game they forced a couple of chances before the interval but neither Hubbard or Riley managed to seriously test Liversedge with long range efforts meaning Atkinson's side had it all to do in the second forty five.

A half time sub saw Damon Mullen replace Lee Mason with a tactical switch seeing Dale moved to the right and Riley moved from left back to left wing. A surprisingly low key start to the second half saw both sides trying to come to terms with a pitch that was cutting up badly due to the recent wet weather conditions. It would take until the hour mark for the first chance and it was golden one for Spartans. Riley received a pass from Hooks and ran at full back Williams before playing the ball into the waiting Airey. The Amble born front man was eight yards from goal but as he was ready to strike the ball it took a bobble and his effort was dragged wide with the goal wide open. Soon after McGorrigan replaced Airey and he would make a big impact on the game, although not before Armstrong had a hat-trick goal ruled out correctly for offside.

With just under twenty minutes left on the clock Spartans began their fightback. Once again Liversedge scuffed a clearance as the ball was played back to him and this time it feel to Andy Jennings. The former Billingham Synthonia striker chipped the visitors keeper with a cool and clinical finish for his first goal in a Spartans shirt. The Croft Park faithful barely had time to breathe before they were on their feet again as their side drew level. Neal Hooks found McGorrigan fully thirty yards from goal and he managed to get in front of his marker Hassan. The former Newcastle United academy striker took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable volley that was beyond Liversedge before he had a chance to move. It was a goal worthy of any game and one that will be remembered for a long time to come at Croft Park, it also provoked a boisterous reaction from the Green Army as they sensed their side were in the ascendancy.

As the clock ticked towards the ninety minute mark Spartans had several chances to snatch all three points. The first of which saw Jennings curl a wonderful cross to the far post that found skipper Buchanan. However he failed to make sufficient connection and his flicked header just missed the far post. Soon after Jennings was sent through on goal by strike partner McGorrigan but dragged his shot wide but with just about the final kick of the game he somehow managed to prove that lightening can indeed strike twice. On his Spartans debut against Witton Albion two weeks ago he managed to chip the Albion keeper from distance only to see the ball bounce on the six yard box and over the bar. It would happen again today as he latched on to a flick from Dale and chipped Liversedge who managed to get fingertips to the ball, however it still headed goalwards only to clear the bar after bouncing only yards from the line. That slice of misfortune meant that the points were shared as the referee blew the final whistle seconds later.

Next up for Spartans is a home fixture this coming Saturday with sixth placed Ashton United making the journey to Croft Park.

Spartans Man of the Match:

Richie Slaughter

Blyth Spartans:

Grant, Utterson, Slaughter, Buchanan, Riley, Mason(Mullen 45), Hubbard(Berj 69), Hooks, Jennings, Airey(McGorrigan 65), Dale

Subs not used:

Stanger, Vipond

Scorer:

Jennings 72, McGorrigan 73

Whitby Town:

Liversedge, Williams(Burgess 75, Tait 85), Robinson, White, Hassan, McTiernan, Portus, Henry, Mulligan, Armstrong, Corker(Snaith78)

Subs not used:

James, Campbell

Goalscorers

Armstrong 5, 30

Referee:

Mr Taylor