Spartans unfortunate to be denied Frickley victory

ALAN McLEAN FCMA CGMA
Chartered Management Accountant

Blyth Spartans 1-1 Frickley Athletic
Evo-Stik Northern Premier League
Croft Park
Tuesday, February 10

It was a tale of two penalties as Spartans were made to rue missed chances in a 1-1 draw with Frickley Athletic in the Evo-Stik Premier League.

After being denied a penalty on the verge of half-time, Robbie Dale made no mistake from the spot in the second-half to open the scoring.

Another penalty shortly after could have put the Spartans out of sight, but a save from keeper Sam Leigh kept the visitors in with a shout of an undeserved point.

And they converted an equalised five minutes from time as centre-half Jack Broadhead powered home a header from an unmarked position.

The missed opportunity keeps Blyth in 14th but still with five games in hand on most sides above them.

Tom Wade made two changes from the side that drew at Ilkeston two weeks ago. Nathan Buddle's transfer to Carlisle United meant Danny Parker started at centre-half, while Alex Nicholson came in at right-back for Stephen Turnbull with Joel Dixon playing in a central midfield position.

The game was largely scrappy in the opening exchanges, full of wasted possession and a few hefty challenges, though it was Spartans who threatened first on the half-hour mark.

Neil Hooks's short corner found Dale and the Blyth skipper danced inside his marker, evading two Frickley challenges before goalkeeper Leigh made a save from point-blank range.

The visitors forced Jeffries into a regulation save from a free-kick before Spartans felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty before the break.

A Hooks corner reached the back post and Sanchez Payne appeared to clearly handle the ball, though the referee's whistle indicated half-time and not a penalty.

The hosts began the second period with more intent and were awarded a spot-kick on 68 minutes. Dale skipped inside his marker and was clearly upended inside the box, before stepping up himself to send Leigh the wrong way.

Four minutes later, Spartans had a chance to double their lead. Dan Maguire's trickery got the better of Broadhead and the defender brought him down inside the area, with referee Gordon given no option but to point to the spot once again. With the centre-back being booked earlier in the game, it was perhaps a surprise not to see another caution.

The skipper stepped up once again but could only fire a strike down the centre, with Leigh stopping it with his legs as he dived away to his right.

Luke Hinsley then spurned a glorious opportunity from a free header as Frickley began to pile forward and eventually made Blyth pay in the 85th minute.

From a deep position, set-piece specialist James Kay whipped the ball into the box and Broadhead thumped his header past a helpless Peter Jeffries.

Spartans even had chances to snatch all three points late on but Michael Richardson's effort was thwarted by a nasty bobble off the pitch and the hosts will rue a missed opportunity for the victory.