MATCH REPORT: Spartans frustrated by Dabbers but take a point

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: 224

Still Blyth Spartans are unable to beat Nantwich Town, whether that be at home or away. However, they won't come as close as they did with a dominant display at the Weaver Stadium but a point was all they could take thanks to Dan Maguire's twentieth goal of the season as the striker got his side back on level terms after Matthew Kosylo had given the hosts the lead.

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 involving 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.

A pulsating game carried on after the interval with Spartans creating the first chance ten minutes in. Jarrett Rivers caused havoc by running at the Dabbers back four before releasing Nicholson down the right. The full back pinged a wonderful first time cross across the face of goal but neither Wearmouth or Maguire could get a decisive touch to finish.

Spartans maintained their attacking intent and again got into their stride playing some very attractive stuff. Nicholson linked up with Maguire to give Richardson a chance to have a shot at goal from the edge of the box but the midfielder fired over.

The game continued in the same fashion with Spartans dominating and Danny Parker came within a whisker of giving them a deserved lead. A Richardson corner from the left was flicked just past the far post by the big centre back.

The only riposte from the hosts came from a long distance effort by goalscorer Kosylo but that was easily taken care of at the second attempt by Nick Thomson.

With the game going into injury time Spartans looked as if they were going to get a winner and if any side deserved it then it was Tom Wade's men. A ball into the area found Richardson and his clever backheel was just out of reach of substitute Ash Davis and ran into the hands of Dabbers keeper Smith.

As the full time whistle blew it was no doubt the home side who would be grateful for the point as Spartans can point to their second half dominance as a reason why they deserved all three points. A hard earned point was all they had to show for an excellent performance as they played some breathtaking football at times.

Nantwich Town: Smith, Dowling, White, Bailey, Harrison, Jones M, Jones S (Osborne 61), Platt, Winslade (Clayton 61), Cooke, Kosylo Subs not used: Blake, Moyo, Long Goals: Kosylo 10

Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Watson(Bell 45), Parker, Hutchinson, Hooks, Richardson, Wade, Rivers, Maguire, Wearmouth (Davis 79) Subs not used: Stv Turnbull, Cummings, Mullen Goals: Maguire 40

Referee: A Bennett