Report

After a wait of 45 years, the Stan got only their 2nd win over Blyth Spartans on their 9th meeting but it was the 1st time that the 2 teams had met on league duty. It was a game of contrasts as the Stan romped to a 4-0 lead playing some of the best football that the Stan Army have seen them play under the management of Dean Nicolson & his assistant Andy McBride who have just signed contracts keeping them at the club until at least the end of next season. The last 20 minutes though saw a different performance as the Spartans came back into the game scoring 3 goals. More importantly though the Stan held on to get a historic & important win. There were 3 changes from Friday’s narrow Trophy defeat at Bradford Park Avenue with Gordon, Evans & Errington replacing Flynn, Beattie & Adamson.

A pleasant evening, in sharp contrast to the stormy conditions faced by the Stan on Friday, saw both teams trying to attack from the start. The Stan were looking positive & this paid off in 11 minutes when Stephenson crossed the ball into the home box & Hopper headed it into the net. The Stan kept attacking & in 18 minutes they were 2-0 up when a long ball to the advancing Errington saw him confidently slot the ball past the home keeper Baker. In 21 minutes, Baker caught the ball from a Shepherd headed effort. The Stan were looking comfortable while Spartans were not looking threatening. In 32 minutes, a Pearson counterattack saw him pass to Stephenson who was brought down just outside the box. The resulting Stephenson free kick went just wide but was deflected back to Slaughter who blasted the ball wide. In 38 minutes, the Stan were 3-0 up when a ball into the home box was deflected to Pearson on the left who blasted the ball into the net. In 40 minutes, Gordon got out to clear a Blyth break. In 41 minutes, an Errington cross was just missed in the centre of the 6 yard box by an advancing Pearson. 2 minutes later & Blyth shot through a busty Stan box & the ball was put out for a corner. From it, Gordon punched the ball out & it was then blasted over the bar by a Blyth player when he should have scored. The Stan kept attacking but the half ended still 3-0 with the Spartans looking like rabbits in headlights compared to the professional looking Stan although this was to change later in the 2nd half.

Blyth started the 2nd half on the attack but on 48 minutes Baker had to catch a headed effort from Errington. The joined-up Stan attacks continued & in 51 minutes a Stephenson shot was blocked. In 53 minutes, Pearson broke forward & supplied the advancing Payne who was brought down in the box but as the referee didn’t stop play, he managed while still on the ground to kick the ball into the open net to make it 4-0. In the aftermath, Spartans’ Slocombe was red carded for dissent. The Stan took advantage of the extra man & kept attacking. In 56 minutes, a ball from a Stephenson corner was headed clear but was sent back in & the move ended with Pearson putting the ball over the bar. In 60 minutes, Pearson replaced Slaughter & 2 minutes later Stephenson passed to Pearson who put the ball in the Spartans net but the flag was up. In 63 minutes, a rare Blyth attack saw a corner cleared. There were 2 more Stan substitutions in 64 minutes followed by another joined up Stan attack. In 67 minutes, Spartans shot high & wide followed by a 4th & final Stan substitution. 2 minutes later, a Spartans free kick just outside the side of the Stan box ended with a penalty being awarded for a foul on a player. The Spartans 70th minute penalty hit the underside of the bar but then went into the net. Milburn was then sent off for dissent. Gordon had to get down to save in the 75th minute. A minute later a Blyth free kick at the edge of the box went straight across the goal & out when a home player should have connected with it. In 80 minutes, a Blyth attack saw the ball go into the busy Stan box & was put into the net at the right post. A minute later & an Errington speculative shot from outside the box goes went just wide. Adamson then broke through but Baker got to the ball 1st. In 82 minutes, a long range Spartans shot forced a great stretching save from Gordon. From the resulting corner, the ball was eventually cleared. In 84 minutes, Errington broke & passed towards the advancing Storey but Baker got out to clear the ball 1st. In 86 minutes, a Blyth corners saw Gordon punch the ball clear & it went back in forcing a great save from him but he could not hold onto the ball & it was slotted into the net to reduce the Stan lead to 1 goal. The last few minutes were nerve racking for the Stan Army starting in the 88th when Gordon blocked a Spartan player from shooting. The ball from the resulting corner was eventually cleared by Stephenson who sent it long to Storey but Baker blocked his shot. The Spartans countered & won a corner. From it the ball was scrambled clear & resulted in another corner which ended with Spartans shooting just wide. Into 4 added minutes & Gordon caught a Blyth effort followed by an Adamson shot at the other end being cleared. In 92 minutes, a long high ball into the Stan box was punched clear by Gordon for a corner. From it, the ball was initially cleared but a follow up Spartans shot hit the Stan post. The Stan were just hanging onto their lead although after a Stan attack the referee blew the final whistle to the relief of the Stan Army.

Despite a very nervous finish, the Stan deservedly took all 3 points. They have jumped up to 11th place while Spartans are 18th & only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. The Stan now host Bishop Auckland on Saturday.                    

Kevin Mochrie

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