SPARTANS FLASHBACK: Grantham Town (a)

Over the summer we will be taking a look back at some of the memorable fixtures during a fantastic 2014/15 season for Blyth Spartans. On each Spartans Flashback there will be reports and reaction plus match photos and highlights when they are available.

Today we take a look back at the day when Spartans sent the Green Army into Christmas on a high with a big League win over Grantham Town

Grantham Town 1-7 Blyth Spartans
Saturday 20th December 2014
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
South Kesteven Sports Stadium
Attendance: 228

On the seventh day of Christmas Blyth Spartans gave something special to their supporters and there wasn't a swan-a-swimming in sight. A clinical display from Tom Wade's saw them smash seven goals past Grantham Town to ensure that the Gingerbreads become the first side that Spartans have done the league double over this season.

Goals from Ryan Hutchinson, Nathan Buddle, Dan Maguire(2), Joel Dixon, Dan Hawkins and an own goal by Gingerbreads centre back Scott Hellewell sent Spartans into the festive period on a high as they blitzed their hosts with a dominant display.

There were fifteen minutes on the clock when the opening goal was scored and it fell to Spartans. A Stephen Turnbull corner kick from the right found it's way to Dan Maguire who managed to hold off the challenge of Hellewell. That allowed him time and space to roll back to Ryan Hutchinson who smashed home right footed from around twelve yards for his second goal for the club.

That lead was doubled on twenty seven minutes as Joel Dixon got his first goal in a Spartans shirt. A ball down the right from Damen Mullen released the hardworking Maguire. The striker took a touch before crossing into the area and finding the onrushing Dixon. The former Frickley Athletic man took a wonderful first touch before slamming the ball past Gingerbreads keeper Dan Haystead before celebrating with the enthusiasm any parents reading this may expect to see from their children come Christmas Day.

Spartans were pegged back on the half hour mark with a cracking goal from Town striker Paul Grimes. A free kick was awarded twenty yards from goal after Alex Nicholson was adjudged to have tripped the dangerous Ben Fairclough. Grimes stepped up to take it and lashed the ball through the wall and into the roof of Peter Jeffries net.

However any thoughts of a comeback from the hosts were tempered when Nathan Buddle got his second goal of the season with the half time whistle about the blow. Another Turnbull corner caused havoc in the Gingerbreads defence and when Haystead dropped a cross it fell to Buddle who took a neat first touch before hammering the ball on the half volley into the net via the cross bar.

If Spartans had been impressive in the first half then their opening five minutes of the second would require a new superlative. Within a minute of the restart the lead was further extended as man of the moment Jarrett Rivers danced past three challenges before crossing low into the six yard box. That caused Gingerbreads defender Scott Hellewell to divert the ball into his own net as a miserable afternoon for the Lincolnshire outfit went from bad to worse.

Three minutes later Spartans had their fifth. Substitute Dan Hawkins had only been on the pitch a minute as he set Dan Maguire in on goal with an incisive through ball. The former Seaton Deleval man's first touch took him away from the chasing Sam Purcicoe and he rolled the ball past the advancing Haystead and it was no more than Maguire deserved for another impressive hardworking display.

As if things weren't bad enough for Town they were reduced to ten men on fifty three minutes. Ben Fairclough was dismissed by referee Guest as punishment for a rash looking tackle on Alex Nicholson, although the official had to consult with his linesman before deciding to show the red card.

With twenty four minutes remained Spartans scored their sixth and while the goal will go down as Maguire's second of the day the credit must go to left back Jordan Watson. The Northern Ireland Under 19 international strode forward from defence before dinking an inch perfect ball in behind the hosts defence and that allowed Maguire to race through on goal and calmly slot the ball past Haystead.

Spartans dominance continued and the impressive Hawkins almost had the goal that his impact as a substitute deserved. The former Bishop Auckland man found a yard of space twenty yards from goal and curled a wonderful right foot effort against the base of Haystead's left hand upright.

With the clock ticking down towards full time Michael Richardson came within a whisker of grabbing his first goal for the club. Joel Dixon released the former Newcastle United midfielder in on goal and after composing himself he rolled the ball agonisingly past the far post.

There was to be one final goal for Spartans to round off their day and it deservedly went to Hawkins. He combined with Richardson on the left and the midfielder's accurate through ball released Hawkins in on goal and he took his time before nestling the ball inside the near post to make it a magnificent seven for Tom Wade's side.

Spartans continue their festive campaign with a Boxing Day home clash with Workington before travelling to Whitby Town on Sunday 29th December. They go into that double header in fine form with only three defeats in twenty two games and having won the last six games in a row. For now though Spartans players, officials and supporters alike can settle down to their Christmas dinners knowing that confidence is high at Croft Park and with plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks.

Grantham Town:

Haystead, Purcicoe, Emmott, Batchelor, Hellewell, Meadows, Lewis, Johnson (Miveld 54), Grimes, Cockerline (Bilyk 71), Fairclough

Subs

Rawdon, Wallace, Divver

Goals:

Grimes 30

Blyth Spartans:

Jeffries, Nicholson, Watson, Buddle, Hutchinson, Turnbull (Hooks 66), Mullen, Rivers, Maguire (Richardson 67), Dixon, Dale (Hawkins 47)

Subs:

Parker, Wearmouth

Goals:

Hutchinson 15, Dixon 27, Buddle 45, Hellewell o.g 46, Maguire 49 and 66, Hawkins 90

Referee:

N Guest

Post-match quotes

Joel Dixon:

"It's been a brilliant day. The main thing for us was to come down to Grantham and get the three points. We know we are playing catch up in the league so to beat a team in such good form in such an emphatic way meant it was a great day for everyone connected with the club"

Tom Wade:

"It was a great team performance. We rested a couple of players and will continue to do so on a rotation basis throughout the Christmas period. The lads who did come in did exceptionally well and when our three forwards are on fire they are unstoppable"