Jeffries the hero as Spartans see off Workington

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 1-0 Workington
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Saturday 26th December
Attendance: 508

In a Boxing Day clash that lacked a bit of punch it was Spartans winger Robbie Dale who dealt a knockout blow to see off an impressive Workington side who had Tom Wade's side on the ropes for much of the game. However Spartans had to be grateful to keeper Peter Jeffries after his penalty save from Mathew Tymon ensured that his side won their seventh game in a row.

The visitors had the best of the opening blows as the hardworking strike duo of Mathew Tymon and Gareth Arnison press Spartans high up the pitch. Their movement created space for the Workington midfielders and it was one of those who almost gave their side the lead as early as the seventh minute. Left back Gari Rowntree broke forward and his cross found the onrushing Philip McLuckie. However despite beating Peter Jeffries and Nathan Buddle to the ball the former Morecambe man could only send his eight yard shot wide of the near post.

The pressure continued from the Reds and on fourteen minutes they could and perhaps should have taken the lead. However thanks to the brilliance and bravery of Jeffries the deadlock remained unbroken. Tymon flicked on to the release winger Scott Allison in on goal and he looked set to give his side the lead but was denied by the Spartans number one as he rushed off his line to block the winger's shot.

That missed chance was punished just two minutes later as Spartans took the lead with their first real chance of the game. Dan Hawkins found some space twenty yards from goal and chipped the ball in behind the Reds back four to release Dan Maguire. The striker beat Workington keeper Jonny Jamieson to the ball and was brought down for a needless penalty.

Robbie Dale stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly sent Jamieson the wrong way to give his side the lead with his fifteenth goal of an already impressive season for the Spartans captain. That also ensured that the long serving winger hit the fifteen goal mark for only the second time in his Croft Park career.

With the visitors dominating possession Spartans were forced to contain their in-form opponents for the rest of the half and they were limited to only one chance. Winger Conor Tinnion found some space on the left and his pinpoint cross found the head of Arnison. Again Jeffries came to Spartans rescue as he threw himself across goal to save an effort that looked destined for the top right hand corner of his net.

The second half saw the game played in much of the same manner. The first chance came just six minutes into the half as Tymon found space on the right hand side of the Spartans area and looked for player manager Gavin Skelton in the area. The midfielder couldn't connect with the ball and it ran to Tinnion on the edge of the area but the man who spent some time of his in New Zealand fired well over the Spartans crossbar.

The first chance of the second period for Spartans fell to Danny Parker who would have doubled his side's lead had it not been for the alert defending of Jake Simpson. Robbie Dale's corner from the left found the former Bishop Auckland defender at the far post and his downward header looked set to nestle just inside the post. However Simpson managed to clear the ball off the line and keep his side in the game.

Workington wrestled the initiative back from Spartans and came within inches of getting a much deserved equaliser just after the hour mark. A cross into the area was headed clear by Nathan Buddle but only as far as McLuckie twenty yards from goal. The midfielder struck a wonderful curling effort that smashed off the Spartans bar and was cleared to safety.

Midway through the half the visitors had a golden chance to get back on even terms with a penalty of their own. A free kick was played into the Spartans area but play was interrupted by the whistle of referee Christopher Ellis. The official pointed to the spot and claimed he had seen a pull back Buddle on Reds captain Dan Wordsworth. Tymon stepped up confidently to take the spot kick but despite firing low and hard to Jeffries right the Spartans number one managed to parry the effort and block the follow up before the ball was cleared by Buddle.

Unquestionably buoyed by the save and fresh from an injection of pace in midfield after the introduction of Michael Richardson Spartans almost grabbed a killer second goal with ten minutes left. The former Newcastle United man was at the heart of the play as he burst away from Skelton before releasing Maguire into the left hand side of the area. The striker took a good first touch before smashing left footed across the face of goal and just past the far post.

An increasingly desperate Workington side went more direct in their approach as they looked for a deserved equaliser but that played into Spartans hands and Wade's side saw out the remaining time comfortably to seal a hard earned win. Their visitors will have been left to rue missed chances and a failure to capitalise on having the majority of the play as they ventured back along the A69 on Friday evening.

Next up for Spartans is the second part of the Christmas double header as they travel to Whitby Town on Sunday before all attention switches to next Saturday's big FA Cup Third Round home tie with SkyBet Championship side Birmingham City.

Spartans: Jeffries, Dixon, Mullen, Parker, Buddle, Turnbull (Richardson 67), Rivers (Wearmouth 84), Wade (Hooks 64), Hawkins, Maguire, Dale Subs: Cummings, Hutchinson

Goals:

Dale pen 16

Workington:

Jamieson, Simpson, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Calvert, Skelton, Allison (Newby 79), McLuckie, Tymon, Arnison (Telfer 88), Tinnion

Subs:

Andrews, Wright, Newby

Goals:

None

Referee: C Ellis