Marine 1-1 Blyth Spartans

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Marine AFC 1-1 Blyth Spartans
Saturday 17th August
Arriva Stadium
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Att: 305

Only a late penalty denied Tom Wade and his Spartans side the perfect start to their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign at Marine today. However that shouldn't mean that anyone connected with the club should look back on the match at the Arriva Stadium with anything other than pride as Spartans put on an organised and committed performance against a top side.

Wade and new Assistant Manager Colin Myers handed competitive debuts to five players after a busy summer in the transfer market. Ryan Cummings, Arjun Purewal, Danny Parker, Matthew Wade and Dean Holmes were handed starts on Merseyside. They did have to deal with the late withdrawal of Craig Hubbard, whose partner is close to giving birth to their baby and Arran Wearmouth who is still awaiting clearance from the FA after moving to Croft Park from Bishop Auckland during the week.

The new season was nearly opened with a spectacular bang and it was a player who shone last season at Spartans who came close to a wonderful goal in the first minute. Robbie Dale found Dan Maguire on the right hand side and the forward struck an unexpected twenty five yard volley that nearly caught out McMahon in the home goal. The home side hit back straight away and it was Spartans keeper Conor Grant who was called into action next with a smart stop at his near post after a snap shot from Marine dangerman Dean Astbury.

As both sides felt their way into the new season a lull in the game followed but that was ended on twenty five minutes as Spartans deservedly took the lead. A long ball forward caught out the hosts defence and allowed Dean Holmes to make the most of his pace to latch on to the loose ball. As he headed into the area he was illegally brought down by McMahon and referee Duncan Carratt pointed to the spot. Joe Kendrick stepped up and crashed a low effort into the bottom left hand corner to put Spartans in front.

The home side almost hit straight back and it was Astbury again who was at the heart of everything dangerous. The front man beat Matthew Wade and Ryan Cummings before smashing a rising effort only to be denied by an excellent reaction stop from Grant, it wouldn't be his last. With the clock ticking down to the interval Spartans had a golden chance to double their lead when Neal Hooks free kick from the left wing caused havoc in the Marine area. The ball fell to Maguire who headed against the bar from eight yards with Wade denied by a brave stop from McMahon on the follow up so Spartans went into the break just a goal to the good.

The home side were expected to come out of the blocks in the second half and they lived up to those expectations. It was no surprise that Astbury was again the root of the problems they were causing Spartans. However anything the striker was throwing at Grant was being impressively repelled by the former Gretna keeper. That's not to say that Marine were walking through the Spartans back four with debutants Purewal and Parker looking calm and composed, well supported by skipper Kendrick and stand-in right back Ryan Cummings.

With twenty minutes left on the clock Dan Maguire nearly doubled the lead as he latched on to an inch perfect Kendrick through ball. However the current Spartans Player of the Year was denied by an excellent stop from McMahon. Just as it seemed Spartans discipline and organisation was to be rewarded with a hard earned three points they suffered the cruellest of cruel blows. They failed to clear a ball into their box and Marine substitute Monaghan just got to the ball ahead of Parker who brought down the youngster with the referee pointing to the spot for the second time in the game. Andy Fowler stepped up and made no mistake crashing into the roof of the net to earn his side a point.

While the immediate reaction for Wade and the Spartans side is one of disappointment at only taking a point where three seemed likely some perspective is required. The Arriva Stadium was the scene of a hammering last season so there is improvement already but the discipline and commitment shown by the whole squad deserved so much more than a point. However the biggest positive for everyone connected with the club was the way the youngsters in the squad settled into life at a higher level and how several of the more experienced players supported them through the game. A case for optimism ahead of their home debut for the new season when newly promoted Trafford make the trip to Northumberland on Tuesday night.

Marine

McMahon, Roberts-Nurse(Devine 72), Dowling, Rendell, Shaw, Parle(Monaghan 84), Woolcott, Lawton, Fowler, Astbury, Lundon

Subs not used

Schofield, Cumiskey, Williams

Goalscorers

Fowler pen 89

Blyth Spartans:

Grant, Cummings, Parker, Purewal, Kendrick, Wade, Mullen, Hooks, Maguire, Holmes(Mason 71), Dale

Subs not used:

Tobin, Nolan, Howarth

Scorers:

Kendrick pen 25