Spartans Season Review: October

During the close season we will be putting together a month by month look at Spartans 2013/14 season. With quotes from management and players, stats and notable achievements the Green Army can relive the many memorable moments from a campaign of progression at Croft Park

October was to be a month of vastly contrasting emotions for everyone at Spartans with the highest of highs and the saddest of lows. The opening game of the month saw Nantwich Town make the trip to Croft Park and play their part in an entertaining draw. There was a familiar name in the Spartans squad as Ash Davis returned to the club for a second spell after completing a move from Whitley Bay just twenty four hours before the Dabbers game.

A disastrous opening twenty minutes saw Spartans two goals down. Town midfielder Oliver Devenney gave his side the lead just seven minutes in before dangerman Arron Burns doubled their lead from the spot. However a spirited comeback in the second half saw Spartans grab a point. Arjun Purewal prodded home from close range to notch his first goal for the club before Dan Maguire's twenty yard curler got his side back on level terms. Davis almost made it a remarkable second debut for the club but saw his injury time effort saved and Tom Wade's side had to make do with a point.

The Spartans manager reflected on the game saying "We were never dominated in what was an entertaining game. I know we can play better and we will be working on things in training this week"

Just a day later the desperately sad news was announced that Spartans legend Scott Bell had passed away following a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. The former striker - dubbed Bellveccio by the Green Army - was just thirty five and the news was quickly followed by glowing tributes from not only those at Croft Park, but also around the North East Non-League Football scene. A minute's applause in honour of Scott was held prior to Spartans league game at Skelmersdale United on the following weekend.

That game kicked off a remarkable week for midfielder Craig Hubbard. A quite frankly bizarre first half saw the sides equally share six goals at the interval. Adam Morning gave Skem the lead just five minutes in but that lead was wiped out just two minutes later by Hubbard. Just before the half hour mark the midfielder grabbed his second with a cool finish into the top corner from twelve yards, however the hosts got back into it through striker Shaun Tuck ten minutes before the break.

Tuck grabbed his second on forty one minutes from the penalty spot and looked as if he had given United the lead at the interval. Hubbard had other ideas though as he smashed home from inside the area to become the first Spartan to hit a hat-trick since Paul Brayson in March 2011.

Chances came and went for Spartans in the second half with Dan Maguire constantly frustrated by Zac Hibbert in the United goal. Those misses were to cost Wade's side as Ken Strickland smashed a twenty yard shot just inside Misiewicz's far post to give his side the points and leave Spartans gutted.

Hat-trick hero Hubbard revealed just how upset the dressing room was. "We are gutted to sum it up in one word. It's nice to get three goals but they mean nothing to me when you get beat in that manner. Attacking wise we look good, we look dangerous going forward but we do need to tighten up and learn how to hold on to leads"

Three days later Ilkeston were in town as a passionate Croft Park paid its own tribute to Scott Bell. The two sides had played out a five goal thriller that Spartans won just six months earlier and history was to repeat itself. Hubbard grabbed his fourth goal in three days from the penalty spot five minutes in but the Robins equalised with one of the most remarkable goals seen at Croft Park in many a year. Ilkeston midfielder Laurie Wilson tried an audacious shot from just inside the Spartans half that sailed over Misiewicz and into the net.

Spartans needed to inspiration and not for the first time this season it was provided by Dan Maguire. Two clinical finishes from the front man put his side in front, the first an instinctive flick from close range, the second a comprehensive finishing touch to a fantastic Ash Davis cross. The two goal lead was halved by an Arran Webster penalty but Spartans held on for a mightily impressive three points.

Spartans moved back up to fourth with the win but two goal hero Maguire revealed nobody was getting above themselves. "The win shows we are up there with the likes of Ilkeston. We have beaten some good sides this season and should have taken at least a point at Skelmersdale on Saturday. Nobody is getting carried away though and we will just keep trying to improve"

Spartans made their FA Trophy debut for the season as they faced Skelmersdale United for the second time in a week. This time Croft Park was the venue and what was to follow will stick in the mind of those in attendance for many a year. A rather unremarkable first half gave little hint of what was to follow although the visitors were reduced to ten men after the dismissal of Matty Hughes. The winger was given a second yellow card and subsequently a red for simulation.

Robbie Dale had started the game on the subs bench but what an impact he was to have, although it may be forgotten in favour of another memorable day for Craig Hubbard. Just before the hour mark Dale's teasing cross to the far post was met by Hubbard and he made no mistake with a first time effort. Soon after the former Bedlington Terriers man doubled both his own tally and his side's lead with a calm left foot finish from the edge of the box.

An unbelievable ten minute spell was rounded off as Hubbard grabbed his second hat-trick in a week and his seventh goal in seven days. A perfect treble was rounded off as the midfielder headed home(pictured above) from close range after some dogged work from Maguire at the far post. With ten minutes left Spartans went into overdrive and blew Skem away. Davis grabbed his first goal of the season, a feat repeated by Joe Kendrick who rounded off a sublime Spartans move. Then in injury time Dan Maguire celebrated his new contract by blasting home from just inside the box to seal a wonderful day for the Green Army.

Who else but Hubbard was left to sum up the day by saying "I don't think I have ever had a week like it, even from when I was a kid I have never experienced anything like it. I didn't even realise it was a perfect hat-trick until after the game when Conor Grant told me. Looking back the last one just fell nicely with the header"

Spartans were brought crashing down to earth seven days later as Kings Lynn Town became the second side to come way from Croft Park with maximum points. A 3-1 defeat - in which Spennymoor Town striker Sonny Andrews made his debut after signing on loan - saw Spartans never really get out of the blocks and they were punished by their visitors. The sides went into half time level after Damen Mullen's spectacular twenty five yards effort had pegged back an early Jake Jones goal.

The second half was all about Town as they punished some sloppy Spartans defending. Andrew Hall seized on a loose ball to smash home from the edge of the box and put his side in front for the second time in the game. A late bobbling effort from substitute Gregory Mills put the seal on the points for the Cambridgeshire outfit and left Wade to admit expectations had been raised after a promising start to the season. "Expectations are high and there is now a different kind of pressure on the lads but we fought hard despite conceding poor goals"

The final game of the month saw Spartans hold their annual Media Night with several members of the national media attending the home game with Frickley Athletic. A professional performance from Spartans saw them complete the league double over the Yorkshire outfit thanks to a first goal for the club for Andrews and a second goal inside three days for Mullen.

On the quarter of an hour mark a Luke Jeffs error was punished in the best possible way as Spartans took the lead. The full back presented Robbie Dale with the ball inside the area but the winger saw his low drive parried by Athletic keeper Woodhead. The rebound fell straight to Andrews who tapped home from close range. Despite the likes of Nathan Buddle, Lewis Horner and Damen Mullen going close Spartans couldn't force a second goal until Mullen was on hand to apply the finishing touch from a narrow angle after Woodhead had denied Dan Maguire.

So a satisfying win for Wade and his side and full back Ian Watson praising the Green Army for their support. "The crowd have always been brilliant here and tonight they were even better than that. They stuck with us and didn't get frustrated when we couldn't get a second goal. We all want to do well for this club and that showed tonight, we now have to carry that on during the rest of the season"

Next week: November - a month of two cup exits, a wonder goal for Robbo and Senior Cup progress