Skipper Dale keeps Spartans in the race

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 2-1 Nantwich Town
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Saturday 11th April 2015
Attendance: 503

Five fences from home in the only race Blyth Spartans are bothered about this weekend they seemed set to stumble as they went into half time a goal down against Nantwich Town. A stumble that could have been fatal to their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League hopes they recovered with a strong second half performance, with captain Robbie Dale scoring a late goal to keep them firmly in the running with the final furlong approaching.

Spartans sprung out of the gates first, although getting their noses in front would have come with a large slice of fortune. A ball from Robbie Dale found Arran Wearmouth on the right hand side of the Dabbers area and the winger's right foot cross took a wicked deflection off the thigh of Andy White. That took it over Terry Smith's head and against the top of the crossbar.

Despite dominating possession, admittedly without creating any meaningful chances, Spartans handed the Dabbers the lead in the twenty seventh minute as centre back Danny Parker gave up possession to Harry Clayton midway inside the Spartans half. That allowed the striker in on goal and although Nick Thomson got a hand to the ball, he couldn't prevent Cooke's low drive from bobbling over the line.

The sum total of Spartans comeback was a Michael Richardson volley from the edge of the box a minute before half time. A Stephen Turnbull corner from the right was headed clear by Dabbers captain Matt Bailey, that only fell to Richardson sixteen yards from goal and after taking a touch to steady himself he fired a volley into the midriff of Smith. After a short delay for an injury to Town defender Ben Harrison, referee Tony Peart brought an end to the first half, thankfully some would say.

Spartans created the first chance of the second period as Arran Wearmouth collected a loose ball midway inside the Dabbers half and after holding off the challenge of Nicky Platt he tried his luck from twenty yards. That shot took a deflection and fell kindly for Dan Maguire but his instinctive effort was smothered by Smith.

However that was only a temporary reprieve for the visitors as a penalty from Stephen Turnbull got Spartans back on level terms. Again the goal came from a defensive lapse as Dan Maguire capitalised on a some daydreaming from Dabbers centre back Matt Bailey on the edge of the area. Bailey promptly tripped Maguire and referee Peart pointed to the spot. Just as he had seven days earlier Turnbull sent a keeper the wrong way with a penalty and got his side back on level terms.

Despite getting the equaliser Spartans seemed to show nerves and only a wonderful stop from Nick Thomson prevented the visitors from retaking the lead. Matthew Kosylo robbed Alex Nicholson of the ball by the right hand corner flag and crossed for Clayton. As the Spartans back four failed to clear Clayton found himself with a sight of goal six yards out and his goalward flick was acrobatically parried away from goal by the Spartans keeper.

In searching for a vital three points Tom Wade sent on Ash Davis for Arran Wearmouth and the big striker almost made an instant impact. Alex Nicholson broke forward from right back and played Davis in on goal but again the alert goalkeeping of Smith frustrating Spartans as he smothered Davis flick towards goal.

It was a second sub, Dan Hawkins, who finally helped put Spartans in front two minutes from the end of the game. The former Bishop Auckland player sent over a sublime low cross to find Robbie Dale and the Spartans captain made no mistake from eight yards with a finish remarkably similar to his first goal in the FA Cup Third Round against Birmingham City.

That goal got Spartans the win that they deserved, if only for their persistence and determination, two qualities that will be crucial over the coming two weeks and could decide whether Tom Wade and his thoroughbreds are first over the line in their play-off race with Curzon Ashton.

There may have been nothing too grand about the performance but Spartans stay firmly in the play off race as Matlock Town are the next to come to Croft Park on Tuesday evening.

Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Mullen, Parker, Bramley, Turnbull (Watson 90), Richardson (Hawkins 82), Dale, Maguire, Hooks, Wearmouth (Davis 73) Subs not used: Wade, Lynch Goals: Turnbull 56, Dale 88

Nantwich Town: Smith, Moran, White, Bailey, Harrison (Dowling 45), Osbourne, Hudson, Platt (Jones 80), Clayton (Winslade 73), Cooke, Kosylo Subs not used: Mighton, Hartley Goals: Clayton 27

Referee:

Tony Peart