Dale brace sees Spartans take a point

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 2-2 Whitby Town
Monday 25th August
Croft Park
Attendance: 505
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Robbie Dale notched twice on his four hundredth appearance for Spartans as they shared the points in a feisty encounter with Whitby Town. However Tom Wade's side can point a a gaffe by referee Paul Newhouse as he missed an obvious foul in the build up to the visitors second goal, although a lack of decisiveness in front of goal cost Spartans the points.

It was the visitors who settled quicker and after Craig Farrell's free kick was blocked by the wall the loose ball fell to David McTiernan on the edge of the box and his first time effort deflected wide of Conor Grant's right hand post.

However Spartans finally got going on seventeen minutes and a flurry of chances came their way, only for the outstanding form of Town stopper Shane Bland to deny them on several occasions. Firstly he denied Hawkins and Maguire with a fantastic double save and then frustrated Robbie Dale twice and both Ian Watson as Spartans sought to press home their ever increasing advantage.

Spartans were dealt a major injury blow as Danny Parker was knocked unconscious after a meaty challenge with Farrell. The centre back was replaced by Hutchinson and was soon on his way to hospital to be checked over.

The goal that seemed likely to never arrive finally did so on forty minutes as former Spartan Lee Mason was penalised for a handball just inside the area. Dale stepped up and sent Bland the wrong way to the goal Spartans dominance deserved and took them into the interval ahead.

That lead could have been doubled early in the second half as Sayer released Jarrett Rivers in on goal. The winger provided a cool finish only to be denied by an offside flag by the linesman.

Further chances came and went as a lack of decisiveness in front of goal continued to frustrate Spartans. Punishment came in the form of an equaliser from Steven Snaith as the striker found some room on the edge of the area before curling home from sixteen yards.

With eight minutes left Snaith had another although the goal was the source of much annoyance to Spartans. A long ball forward saw Snaith push Nathan Buddle out of the way before lashing into the far corner of Grant's net. Spartans were left appealing for a decision that never came.

However a minute later they were back on level terms. An Ian Watson corner from the right found it's way to Dale at the back post, the winger checked in on his right foot before lashing home into the top corner.

A Spartans went looking for a winner there was another contentious decision. Dan Maguire looked set to get on the end of a misjudgement by Burgess but the Town defender pulled back the Spartans striker. Referee Newhouse waved away protests before being made aware of the foul the linesman on the Port of Blyth Stand side of Croft Park. After a brief chat the official summoned over Burgess and showed the defender the red card.

However his side held on for a point and only suffered a minor scare as Maguire headed over from ten yards as he rose to meet Dale's cross from the right.

Blyth Spartans: Grant, Nicholson, Parker(Hutchinson 20), Buddle, Watson, Hooks, Sayer(Robinson 57), Hawkins, Dale, Maguire, Rivers(Wearmouth 72) Subs: Bell, Harrison

Whitby Town: Bland, Mason, Robinson, Burgess, Hassan, McTiernan, Gardner(Waters 67), Hopson, Farrell(Brown 48), Snaith, Shepherd(Callighan 57) Subs: Williams, Campbell

Referee: Paul Newhouse