Spartans hold on for points on historic day for Dale

In association with:

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 3-2 Kings Lynn Town
Saturday 22nd November
Attendance: 412
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Spartans gained a vital three points against Kings Lynn Town and whilst there can be no denying they deserved the win they also made hard work of it. Goals from front three Dan Maguire, Jarrett Rivers and a historic strike for Robbie Dale ensured that they came out on top although goals from George Thomson and Greg Smith sent the nerves around Croft Park.

The opening stages of the game were lit up by the dazzling wing play of Spartans winger Jarrett Rivers. He terrorised the visitors defence and on six minutes he created the first chance of the game as his cross from the left found the head of Nathan Buddle. The former Hartlepool United centre back headed back to the penalty spot where his defensive partner Ryan Hutchinson could only drag a right foot shot wide of the near post.

The opening goal of the game came on twelve minutes and it should be no surprise that it was set up by the in-form Rivers. He turned Linnets left back Jordan Young inside out on the right before crossing to the far post. The centre took a slight deflection but seemed to be heading Dan Maguire who was left with a simple headed finish from inside the six yard box.

Spartans controlled the next twenty minutes with Dale, Maguire and Rivers all looking dangerous without really creating any real chances. Just after the half hour mark the game threatened to boil over as the visitors received two yellow cards in the space of two minutes. Firstly Jackson Ramm was shown a yellow card for dragging down Dan Maguire and then Ross Watson followed his team mate into referee Christopher Ellis' book after clattering into Robbie Dale.

The Linnets finally found their feet with five minutes of the half and were left to rue the alert keeping of Peter Jeffries as he rushed off his line to deny Stephen Spriggs after he had been played into the left hand side of the area. There was another chance for the visitors with the half time whistle about the blow as Young strode forward from left back and skipped past two week challenges and into the area. However his left footed angled drive flashed past Jeffries' far post and that was enough to ensure Spartans held on to their lead at the half time whistle.

The second half started in the same manner as the first and Spartans doubled their lead just under ten minutes into the half. Robbie Dale's flick released Dan Maguire in on goal and he got to the ball before keeper Street who caught the little striker and referee Ellis awarded a penalty. That allowed Dale the chance to send himself into third place in Spartans all time scorers list and it was a chance he took in some style by smashing the spot kick into the top left hand corner.

With just over twenty minutes left the lead was extended with a deserved goal for Rivers. He seized on a defensive error by Fryatt and burst towards the edge of the area but smashing a low left footed drive from twenty yards. A sublime goal that capped up and wonderful display from the winger who was awarded the sponsors man of the match and who would argue with that?

However within two minutes the visitors pulled one back with a brilliant free kick from George Thomson. The midfielder curled right footed into Jeffries top left hand corner and left the former Bishop Auckland keeper with no chance. Slight nerves became bigger nerves with fifteen minutes left as Greg Smith found some space in the Spartans area before turning Ryan Hutchinson and driving a low shot off the far post and into the net.

Spartans may well have expected an onslaught from the Linnets but apart from a low angled drive by Spriggs their pressure was limited to long balls into the Spartans area that were repelled by Nathan Buddle and Ryan Hutchinson. Spartans learned their lessons from last weeks draw against Halesowen Town who snatched a last gasp draw and confidently saw out the four minutes of injury time to take all three points.

Teams

Spartans:

Jeffries, Dixon, Watson, Hutchinson, Buddle, Turnbull, Rivers, Hawkins, Maguire, Wade, Dale

Subs:

Parker, Quinn, Cummings, Mullen, Richardson

Kings Lynn Town:

Street, Ramm, Young, Watson, Fryatt, Bridges, Spriggs, Quigley, Smith, Thomson, Jones

Subs:

Frew, Stocker, Ward, Fryatt, Pearson

Referee: Christopher Ellis