Blyth Spartans 1 AFC Telford United 0 - Report and pictures

Both of those losses have come on long-distance trips to the North-East, and manager Gavin Cowan was left frustrated by what he saw as his team panicking when seeing the conditions at Croft Park.

Blyth’s ‘Spartans’ name is no accident. Look up the word in a dictionary, and you’ll see it defined as “characterized by a lack of comfort or luxury”, and there was little comfort offered to the away side, who fell to fifth in the National League North table with this loss.

The home side made a whirlwind start to the game, buoyed by a midweek FA Cup win over Nantwich Town, and their fans responded to their team’s efforts, adding to the Bucks discomfort. Despite their indifferent start to the season, the Spartans possess a potent forward line, and Dan Maguire, flanked by the veteran Robbie Dale and the fleet-footed Jamie Holmes, soon had the Bucks back-pedalling. Holmes was the man making the early running, and the Bucks left-back Ross White had his hands full trying to keep him at bay. White blocked an early shot from the winger, and then saw Holmes flash an effort over the angle of post and bar. Spartans also won some early free-kicks in dangerous positions, and keeper Max Bramley had to push a Dale free-kick around his left post before palming away the resulting corner.

Bucks central defender Theo Streete was to become the centre of attention, and after a clumsy challenge lacking malice the Blyth fans cast him as the villain. Every header and tackle he contested was met by calls for referee Elliott Swallow to make their late summer by booking Streete. The official was soon to assume the mantle from Streete of public enemy number one, with Blyth fans feeling he was being far too lenient. In truth, his decision-making was poor for both sides, though that didn’t stop him leaving the field to calls of “Cheat” at half time.

By that point the home side were ahead. The Bucks hadn’t mustered a clear shot on goal in the first half, whilst Dale and Maguire had both missed golden opportunities to give their side the lead. However, just when it looked as though the Bucks would make it to half-time with their goal intact, Maguire struck, heading home a left-wing cross from close range.

It was a lead they probably deserved, whilst the Bucks went in at the break in need of something to change the prevailing conditions, in all respects.

Blyth started the second half still looking the better side, but making fewer chances, and as their efforts to increase their lead blew themselves out the Bucks found their second wind. Cowan made three quick substitutions and changed his side’s shape, with some effect.

With 20 minutes remaining, Ellis Deeney saw an effort from Callum Cockerill Mollett’s low, left-wing cross flash wide of Pete Jameson’s goal. Jameson then saved a low Deeney effort from 30 yards before Amari Morgan-Smith saw a shot blocked after Jameson had denied Daniel Udoh. Morgan-Smith then should have brought his side parity; the forward had replaced Matthew Barnes-Homer, himself a somewhat surprising inclusion in the starting eleven, and from close range he should have scored, but his efforts to meet a left-wing cross on the run only turned the ball wide. His reaction said he too knew he should have scored.

Blyth made substitutions too, trying to inject fresh impetus to keep their lead intact. They remained dangerous on the break as the Bucks went to three in defence, and perhaps may have sensed it was going to be their day when on 85 minutes, substitute Jonathan Royle, was picked out on the penalty spot by Udoh’s run and cross; however, he shot agonisingly wide.

The Bucks mounted a real push in the last few minutes, and almost paid the price, Bramley keeping his side in it with a miraculous save from Blyth substitute Jarrett Rivers. Despite their late rally, Cowan’s troops were to be denied any reward, and were left rueing a slow start where their manager felt was a failure to adapt to the conditions.

TEAMS

Bucks: Bramley, White, Cockerill-Mollett, Deeney, Sutton (c), Streete, Cowans (Royle 57), McQuilkin (Dawson 72), Barnes-Homer (Morgan-Smith 57), Udoh, Knights.

Unused substitutes: Wycherley, Brown.

Bookings: Sutton, Cockerill-Mollett.

Spartans: Jameson, Nicholson, I.Watson, Green (Horner 74), Buddle, J.Watson, Wrightson (Rivers 78), Reid, Maguire, Holmes (Fewster 83), Dale (c).

Unused substitutes: Cunningham, Skrpan.

Scorers: Maguire (45)

Bookings: Maguire.

Referee: Elliott Swallow.

Assistants: Martin Conroy, Jack Gordon.

Attendance: 590