HALF TIME REPORT: Nantwich Town 1-1 Spartans

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Nantwich Town 1-1 Blyth Spartans
Weaver Stadium
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Tuesday 10th March 2015
Attendance:

Spartans had all of the early pressure and created two quickfire chances. Firstly in the second minute some neat interplay between Dan Maguire and Jarrett Rivers allowed the latter to fire a shot at goal from the edge of the area but it was comfortably saved low down to his left by Dabbers keeper Terry Smith. That was quickly followed a minute later by a curling effort from Michael Richardson as the midfielder tried to find the top right hand corner with a curling effort from twenty yards but it just evaded the angle of bar and post.

However for all of their early pressure Spartans couldn't force an opening goal and they were punished ten minutes in as the home side took the lead through Matty Kosylo. The winger was played in on goal by an incisive through ball from AFC Telford United loanee Sean Cooke and made no mistake with a low effort that Nick Thomson got a hand to but couldn't prevent it going over the line.

Five minutes after falling behind Spartans almost got back on level terms with a wonderfully worked move. Arran Wearmouth burst down the left and played the ball through the legs of Shaun Dowling before reaching the byline. His pullback found Michael Richardson and the midfielder smashed a low, left footed drive towards the near post but it was tipped wide by Smith.

The match was end-to-end and only the alert defending of Jordan Watson prevented Cooke from doubling the home side's lead. The tricky wing play of Kosylo took him past Alex Nicholson and his pull back caused chaos in the Spartans area and the loose ball ran to Cooke. However his low drive from eight yards was blocked and cleared from the line by Watson.

With half time approaching Spartans were on top and as Ryan Hutchinson flicked a header goalwards, Dabbers keeper Smith tipped it around the post. From the resulting corner Danny Parker headed into the six yard box and Dan Maguire spectacularly got Spartans the equaliser they deserved with an overhead kick from the edge of the six yard box. That moved Maguire on to twenty goals for the season.

As the opening half moved into injury time Spartans almost took the lead with a goal of the highest quality. A lovely flowing move involved Nicholson, Hooks and Rivers led to a neat flick from Richardson releasing Maguire in on goal and his low drive was tipped around the post by Smith. That save meant the sides went into half time on level terms after an entertaining first half.

Nantwich Town: Smith, Dowling, White, Bailey, Harrison, Jones M, Jones S, Platt, Winslade, Cooke, Kosylo Subs not used: Clayton, Blake, Osborne, Moyo, Long Goals: Kosylo 10

Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Watson, Parker, Hutchinson, Hooks, Richardson, Wade, Rivers, Maguire, Wearmouth Subs not used: Davis, Stv Turnbull, Cummings, Mullen, Bell Goals: Maguire 40

Referee: A Bennett