Ruthless Spartans maul the Tigers

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 3-0 Hyde United
Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division
Tuesday 29th September 2015
Croft Park
Attendence: 517

Blyth Spartans produced their second dominant display inside three days as a mixture of sublime passing and movement and lethal finishing ensured that they put Hyde United to the sword. Goals from Robbie Dale, Sean Reid and Dan Maguire ensured that the win, coupled with Darlington's failure to win at Skelmersdale United put Tom Wade's side two points clear at the top of the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division with a game in hand.

Within two minutes Spartans almost had an opener as Arran Wearmouth danced through two challenges on the right hand side of the Hyde area and unleashed a cross-shot that was tipped over the bar by the alert goalkeeping of loan debutant Jindric Stanek.

The pressure was unrelenting, albeit with no goal to reward it.

However it should have come on seven minutes when Stephen Turnbull floated a ball to the far post that was met by the head of Matthew Wade. Unfortunately for those of a green and white persuasion the midfielder could only head over the crossbar, however warning shots had been fired.

The visitors only riposte was a twenty yard effort from Scott Spencer that never really looked like testing Fabian Otte as it went harmlessly over the crossbar.

Spartans hit back as a move involving Stephen Turnbull, Robbie Dale and Alex Nicholson allowed the latter to release Dan Maguire in the area. The striker hit a vicious, swerving effort that was tipped around the far post, showing the Premier League credentials of the on-loan Everton keeper.

The deadlock was broken on twenty two minutes and rather unsurprisingly, given current form, it came from Robbie Dale. A feature of Saturday's win over Mickleover Sports was the sublime crossfield passing of Dillon Morse and again the former Carlisle United man produced something out of the top drawer.

That pass was met with a finish of equal quality as Dale struck a low, swerving drive that Stanek could only get a hand to. However, that wasn't enough to keep it from landing inside the far post to give Spartans a deserved lead.

That lead was almost doubled two minutes before the half hour mark and again it was Dale at the heart of the action.

The in-form winger was given time and space midway inside the Tigers half and swung a wonderful ball towards the far post that only just evaded the onrushing Wearmouth and Reid.

Reid had much better luck on the half hour mark and again it was Dale who supplied the chance and this time Reid beat Stanek to the ball and made it three goals in two games for the former West Allotment Celtic man.

The visitors were reduced to ten minutes on thirty eight minutes as the linesman on the Ferguson Transport stand side alerted referee Geoff Liddle to an off the ball incident. Tigers winger Ben Jago was dismissed.

Things almost got even worse for the visitors when Matthew Wade flicked back for Reid and the midfielder struck the outside of the post with a flicked effort. However the lead remained at two going into the break.

Spartans started the second half on top, although without seriously testing Stanek. Half chances came the way of Robbie Dale, albeit from distance, with the Tigers number one never called into the action.

The first genuine chance of the second period fell to Sean Reid as the midfielder found a yard of space on the edge of the Tigers area and tried to curl a left foot shot inside the right hand upright. However Stanek produced a fine diving save to tip the ball away to safety.

There was a real let off for Spartans midway through the half as Dillon Morse switched off and was robbed by former Everton forward Scott Spencer. However as the striker made his way into the area he lashed the ball wide of the far post.

Again Spartans upped the pressure and Turnbull forced Stanek into the save of the night as the young keeper flew across his goal to parry the midfielder's sublime curling effort around the far post.

Finally the frustration was ended in more ways than one in the sixty eighth minute. Spartans extended their lead to three and Dan Maguire ended his own mini goal drought as he raced through on goal and nonchalantly chipped the ball over the advancing Stanek to spark mass celebrations inside Croft Park.

With the game won and their opponents beaten Spartans stroked the ball around Croft Park in confident passion and will go into Saturday's trip to Grantham Town full of confidence after two wins, seven goals and six points inside three days.

Blyth Spartans:

1. Fabian Otte, 2. Andrew Cartwright, 3. Alex Nicholson, 4. Dillon Morse, 5. Ryan Hutchinson, 6. Stephen Turnbull (Neal Hooks 77), 7. Arran Wearmouth (Michael Richardson 75), 8. Sean Reid (Paul Robinson 77), 9. Dan Maguire, 10. Matthew Wade, 11. Robbie Dale (capt)

Subs.

12. Jordan Watson, 15. Danny Parker

Goalscorers:

Dale 22, Reid 30, Maguire 68

Blyth Spartans star man:

Robbie Dale

Hyde United:

1. Jindrich Stanek, 2. James Burke, 3. Lee Neville, 4. Michael Muscat, 5. Shane Killock (capt), 6. Andy Pearson, 7. Ben Jago, 8. Spencer Harris, 9. Scott Spencer (Ayrton Bevans 80), 10. Liam Davies (Sam Fitton 38), 11. Reece Grey (Elliot Harrison 77)

Subs.

12. Pete Boyle, 14. Ryan Ellison

Goalscorers:

None

Hyde United star man:

Jindrich Stanek

Entertainment rating:

4/5

Referee:

Geoff Liddle

Assistants:

Michael Gatiss and Michael Burrows