Spartans beaten on Dale’s big day

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ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 0-1 Sunderland U21s
Robbie Dale Testimonial
Croft Park
Saturday 1st August 2015
Attendance: 812

A goal from Sunderland U21s' striker Martin Smith was enough to give the Black Cats youngsters a win against Blyth Spartans but in reality the result meant little.

This was a day when Spartans paid tribute to the long service of their club captain Robbie Dale, a player who has become synonymous with the club in his ten years at Croft Park.

Spartans players, both past and present, as well as a whole host of supporters, had paid tribute to the winger in the build up to the game.

The game was a lively one for a pre-season fixture.

Thoughts of it "just being a testimonial" were quickly thrown out of the window as both sides went for the jugular.

The Black Cats short, sharp passing game was impressive but Spartans were far from overawed.

Indeed, it was Tom Wade's side who monopolised the chances in the opening stages. Striker Sean Reid dragged a shot past the near post from twenty yards out five minutes in and Damen Mullen fired over the bar from inside the area as he met a cross from former Black Cats academy product Jordan Watson.

The visitors finally made some headway in the game midway through the half as Ethan Robson was unfortunate to see a sublime right-footed curling effort come off the far post, with Spartans keeper Adam McHugh beaten.

Ten minutes before half time the two sides traded long-distance free kicks, alas with no success.

First up, for Spartans, was Alex Nicholson but his dipping effort from twenty five yards was comfortable for the Black Cats Polish goalkeeper Max Stryjek.

Moments later Martin Smith could only send an effort over the Spartans bar from a similar range.

Two minutes before the interval Smith was more successful and gave his side the lead. Some impressive hold up play from Mandron allowed him to find Smith twenty yards from goal and his left foot curler sneaked inside McHugh's near post to put the visitors ahead at the break.

A quiet start to the second half saw the Black Cats dominate possession, although the real story was to come on the hour mark as a familiar face made his introduction to the game.

Thanks to being given permission to play by his club Halifax Town, former Spartans striker Dan Maguire came on for Sean Reid and was given a rapturous welcome by the Croft Park faithful.

That mood was almost dampened moments later as Greek international Mavrias almost doubled Sunderland's lead but sent a shot past the far post from just inside the Spartans area.

With ten minutes remaining on the club there was another equally popular substitution by Tom Wade.

The Spartans boss gave the Croft Park crowd another reason to get on their feet as Robbie Dale came off to be replaced by Chris Bell.

Dale was given a standing ovation by the Green Army as they honoured a man who had given them countless amounts of great memories in over a decade at the club.

The game petered out after the Dale substitution and when the final whistle was blown the referee brought down the curtain on a valuable pre-season fixture for Wade and his men.

And the last word must go to Dale. Has any player in the club's recent past given as much as the winger? The tributes paid pre-match show that the admiration for his talent go far beyond that of South East Northumberland.

Yet he remains loyal to his club, to his Blyth Spartans, and he will now lead them into their battle for promotion this coming season, once again carrying the hopes and dreams of the Green Army.

Blyth Spartans:

McHugh, Mullen, Watson, Hutchinson, Parker, Robinson, Wade, Dale, Reid, Richardson, Nicholson

Subs:

A Trialist, B Trialist, C Trialist, D Trialist, Morse, Maguire, Wearmouth, Bell

Goals:

None

Spartans star man:

Paul Robinson

Sunderland U21s:

Strjdek, J Robson, T Robson, Agnew, Brady, Beadling, Mavrias, E Robson, Mandron, Smith, Greenwood

Subs:

Goals:

Smith 43

Sunderland U21s star man

Ethan Robson

Entertainment value:

4/5