Report | Dale double secures massive win for Spartans

Saturday, 11 January 2020

By Stephen Burton

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA

Chartered Management Accountant

National League North

11th January 2020

Blyth Spartans 2-1 Curzon Ashton

Robbie Dale bagged a brace as Spartans came from behind to earn
a massive three points to go within a point of safety at a windswept Croft Park.

The visitors went ahead through Connor Dimaio as he fired low
past Zach Hemming just after the hour mark, before Dale's looping free-kick pulled
Spartans level four minutes later.

The Spartans captain then completed the come back on 73
minutes to ensure the hosts claimed a vital three points.

Spartans boss Lee Clark made one change from the midweek
defeat to Altrincham, with Mark Waddington replacing Damen Mullen to make his
first start for the club, in what was a huge match for Spartans who were four
points behind Curzon - and safety - in the National League North.

And Spartans almost got off to the perfect start three
minutes in, as the midfielder surged forward and played in Cal Roberts, whose
stunning curling effort hit the bar with Cameron Mason left stranded.

But despite a promising start, the game became scrappy with
both sides seeming to struggle with the windy conditions - until Roberts
produced another moment of magic midway through the first half.

Crowded out on the right touchline, the winger produced a
tremendous backheel to release Rhys Evans who ran clear into the area, Robbie
Dale met the fullback's low cross but was denied by a superb reaction save from
Mason.

Blyth looked the better of the sides but struggled to create
anything of note and the first-half looked to be petering out only for Curzon
to waste two golden opportunities to take the lead a minute before the
interval.

Olatunde Bayode found himself free in the area but his
attempt badly caught the wind and failed to go out of play, from the subsequent
cross Robert Evans could only head the ball down across goal when he should
have hit the target, then Bayode popped up again but somehow hooked wide from a
couple of yards.

It was a quiet opening to the second half, but then the
match sprung into life on the hour as Spartans failed to clear a free-kick and
the ball found its way to Dimaio, who wriggled free on the edge of the box and
sent a low shot past Zach Hemming.

But the hosts responded well, and found themselves level
just four minutes later in unusual circumstances. Dale lofted a free-kick into
the area from mid-way into the Curzon half, originally looking overhit, the
ball caught the wind and looped over the stranded Mason in the visitor's goal.

Spartans by this point were well on top and could have went
ahead just five minutes later as Dale fired wide from a promising position in
the box.

However, the home side did not have to wait too much longer,
as the Spartans captain then completed the turnaround just a couple of minutes
later. After a well worked move on the right-hand side, Dale exchanged passes
with Hawkins, and this time made no mistake as he slotted home.

The game reverted to being scrappy in the final 10 minutes
with the visitors rarely looking like they would get back into the game,
however, that almost changed in the 92^nd minute, as Bayode wasted
another golden chance by firing wide of Hemming's goal.

Spartans saw out the final few moments and hung on for a
huge win that sees them cut the gap to safety to just one point ahead of next
weekend's trip to Telford.

Goals: Dale (65', 73')

Curzon Ashton: Mason, Baillie (Merrill 86'), Askew, Wroe ©, Shaw, Ali, Evans, Calveley, Bayode, Dimaio, Sinclair (Scott 73'). Unused subs: Lovell, Sloan, McCann

Goals: Dimaio (61')

Referee: Jonny Urwin

Attendance: 721