Spartans earn draw at Workington

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Workington 1-1 Blyth Spartans
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Borough Park
6th April 2015
Attendance: 871

It's very much as you were in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play-off chase after Blyth Spartans draw at Workington matched the scoreline at FC United of Manchester and Curzon Ashton. Tom Wade's outfit went into the lead at Borough Park thanks to Michael Richardson's second goal of the Easter Weekend but were pegged back by a goal from Conor Tinnion seven minutes before the break.

The second half was a bit of a slow burner but once it got going the game settled into a familiar pattern as both sides created chances but failed to snatch a winning goal. That probably ensured that the game ended in a fair result between two of the stronger sides in the league.

Spartans got off to the perfect start with a goal in the second minute. An Alex Nicholson ball forward looked relatively straight forward for Reds defender Kyle May but a lapse in concentration saw the ball escape from his control. That allowed Dan Maguire into the right hand side of the area and he found Michael Richardson ten yards from goal and the in-form midfielder calmly rolled the ball inside the near post much to the delight of the travelling Green Army.

There was a real let off for Tom Wade's men in the tenth minute as a vicious inswinging free kick from Jake Simpson found the unmarked Matty Tymon but the Reds top scorer somehow managed to send the ball wide from six yards out.

The Cumbrian side came again and continued to put Spartans under pressure. Player Manager Gavin Skelton was next to try his luck as he collected a return pass from Tymon but fired narrowly wide of the near post as Nick Thomson scrambled along his line.

Midway through the half the hosts came close to a somewhat fortunate equaliser. A loose ball bounced up twenty five yards from goal to Skelton and the veteran midfielder hooked a volley goalwards. That effort had Thomson scrambling backwards and the Spartans keeper tipped it over the bar, opting for a safety first attitude, correctly it must be said.

Spartans finally escaped the pressure they had been put under on the half hour mark as Arran Wearmouth found some space down the left. He ran at Simpson before firing a cross into the edge of the six yard box that Maguire headed over, although the Spartans striker did claim that his effort had taken a deflection off Kyle May on its way over the bar.

With seven minutes until the break there was an equaliser for the hosts. A long ball forward saw Matty Tyman ease Danny Parker off the ball, with more than a hint of a push. That allowed the Reds striker to advance towards the edge of the Spartans area before rolling in Conor Tinnion. The winger cut inside the challenge of Damen Mullen before rolling a shot past the desperate dive of Thomson. That goal ensured that the sides went into the interval level after a lively first forty five minutes.

The Reds started the second half on top and a lightening quick break instigated by Skelton almost gave them the lead. The player manager broke forward and released Alex Newby into the box but the forward saw his curling effort well saved by Thomson and the loose ball was cleared to safety.

The second half lacked the intensity of the first with only half chances being created by the hosts. Long range efforts from Phil McLuckie and Tinnion never really came close to testing Nick Thomson but were signals of intent from the host.

Spartans finally burst into life on the hour mark as Neal Hooks and Robbie Dale combined to allow midfielder Hooks for volley at goal but Jonny Jamieson got across goal to parry the ball out for a corner.

Michael Richardson had been the brightest spark in Spartans second half and he was unlucky to be denied his second goal of the day shortly after Hooks' chance. The former Newcastle United midfielder burst past two challenges but was denied by a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Reds captain Sam Smith.

Spartans were enjoying their best spell of the game and they came again with twenty minutes left. Maguire was released down the left and skipped past a challenge but was faced with a narrow angle. However as he was set to fire at goal team mate Stephen Turnbull took control and fired tamely at goal and his effort was comfortable for Jamieson.

There was a big penalty shout for the home side with ten minutes remaining as a Tinnion corner from the right was cleared by Danny Parker. The centre back cleared against the hand of Hooks and referee Matthews waved away the protests from the majority inside Borough Park.

Tom Wade made changes to try and force a win and one of them, Ash Davis, had a great chance to put his side in front with a minute of normal time remaining. Dan Maguire hooked a ball in behind the Reds back four and Davis used his strength to see of two defenders but his touch was too heavy and that allowed Jamieson to take the ball away from the big striker. With that chance went Spartans hopes and shortly after referee Matthews brought down the curtain on an entertaining affair between two strong sides.

Spartans now head home and welcome Nantwich Town to Croft Park on Saturday and are still in with a shout of a play off place, thanks to a run of one defeat in twenty one games.

Workington AFC: Jamieson, Simpson, Smith, May, Calvert (O'Donnell 83), Skelton, Tinnion, McLuckie, Tymon, Newby, Telfer (Salmon 65) Subs not used: Hindmarch, Arnison, Wright Goals: Tinnion 38

Spartans: Thomson, Nicholson, Mullen, Bramley, Parker, Hooks, Wearmouth (Rivers 65), Richardson (Hawkins 86), Maguire, Turnbull, Dale (Davis 85) Subs not used: Lynch, Watson Goals: Richardson 2

Referee:

John Matthews