A Great Advert for Non-League Football – Blyth v Ilkeston Evo-Stick Premier

 

First of all before writing this entry, I’d like to just take a moment to offer my condolences to the family of former Blyth Spartans AFC striker Scott Bell, who unfortunately lost his 2 year battle with Motor Neurone Disease last week, at the age of just 35yrs old. The much loved former Blyth frontman had made 125 appearances for the Spartans and had netted 50 times in a stint that spanned 3 years, which included a league and cup treble. In the words of all involved with Blyth Spartans “Rest in peace Bellveccio.”

 

Being a fond lover of non-league football, I’m always on the lookout for an exciting local game that’ll deliver that fix of good football we all crave, so when the opportunity arose to attend Blyth Spartans v Ilkeston in the EvoStick- Premier, once again, there was only ever going to be one answer! Setting off on the 51 mile trip straight up the A1 just after quarter past 5, me and my fellow companion were both looking forward to what on paper, looked an extremely attractive match-up.

Arriving in Blyth about 18:45 the first thoughts that immediately entered my head, was to be honest, grim! Although darkness had already set in, Blyth really gave us both that feeling of being in Boro, not surprising really with Blyth being a harbour town. Unfortunately for us, my little friend here didn’t 100% know where Croft Park was (home of Blyth Spartans) so how do you go about looking for a non-league ground in the middle of an unknown territory? Scan the skyline for floodlights of course! Then vuala! As if by magic we were there.

 

Parking in a street just outside the ground, from first appearances Croft Park looked like a ground packed  full of character and it didn’t disappoint. First things first though, straight to the bar! The club bar at Blyth or shall I say function room, is an extremely spacious, warm, cosy and inviting area. Club bars and social areas at non-league clubs are another massive reason why I have a passion for these leagues, no matter where you go you’re always welcomed into a friendly, family atmosphere and you get that sense of belonging, even as a neutral! Paying an acceptable £10 (which is pretty average for this league) into Croft Park you’re immediately greeted by a sort of mingling area for fans, you have you’re toilets on one side and the Burger van on the other, three guesses where I headed straight away! £3.20 for a decent Cheeseburger and a can of coke was more than satisfying.

Croft park is built up of 4 stands, one large seated stand by the side of the pitch where the dug outs are situated and immediately opposite you have a fairly large covered terrace, which you could probably get a good 400-500 squeezed in to. Behind both goals you have covered terraces covering the full length of the goal line. All in all Croft Park can accommodate around about 4435 (556 seated) spectators.

 

Both teams lined up as follows:

Blyth - Misiweicz, Airey, Purewal, Buddle, Watson, Mullen, Horner, Hubbard, Wearmouth, Davis, Maguire

Ilkeston - Allinson, Baker, Webster, Gordon, Maguire, Storey, Reid, Wilson, Ricketts, Richards, Stokes

Onto the Match!

Before kick off a minutes applause was observed by all in Croft Park in respect of the late Scott Bell.

From the off there was some really good, attractive attacking play on show and it didn’t take long for the first chance of the game to materialise, a shot from Ilkeston’s Kane Richards from just 10 yards out went wide of Blyth’s near post and it didn’t take long for Blyth to punish that miss. Just a few minutes later Aaron Wearmouth burst into the Ilkeston penalty box and was hacked down by Matt Baker, penalty to Blyth in which in form Craig Hubbard duly dispatched into the back of the net. With Blyth 1-0 up Ilkeston immediately went on the lookout for an equaliser and they nearly got it straight away, with a good chance that just couldn’t find the net. However Ilkeston were soon rewarded with one of the best goals I have ever seen! From absolutely nothing, Ilkeston’s Laurie Wilson spotted Blyth’s Michal Misiewicz off his line and he took his chance, from just on the halfway line Wilson unleashed a powerful but speculative shot that had Misiewicz scrambling to get back on his line, but he had no chance and to the delight of the few travelling Ilkeston fans, the effort flew in to the top corner of the goal. Blyth kicked the game back off but in a half full of attacking play, the only one realistic chance before half time fell to Ilkeston’s Jason Stokes who’s chip over an advancing Misiewicz landed harmlessly on top of the net.

 

Into the 2^nd half and immediately Blyth went 2-1 up. A pacey cross into the box by Aaron Wearmouth, who so far for me had looked impressive with his workrate, was met by Danny Maguire who with the flick of his boot, left Allinson in the Ilkeston goal clawing at thin air. And just minutes later Blyth nearly went 3-1 once again through Danny Maguire, his header after a mistake by Allinson was met with a last ditch clearance off the line by Baker. However Danny Maguire did eventually get his second of the night after a cross by Ash Davis found an unmarked Maguire in the 6yrd box with a simple tap in past a stranded Allinson, whose defence had literally gone missing. With the game seemingly all but over, it appeared that Blyth sat back a little which allowed Ilkeston to go in search of a goal that would get them back in the game and it was Blyth’s own lack of concentration that allowed Kane Richards to stroll into the box, only for a clumsy challenge from Lewis Horner gave Ilkeston that lifeline back in to the game from the penalty spot. Aaron Webster stepped up and converted the chance that gave Ilkeston an opportunity to take home at least a point from the game with 15mins still to go. After that though Ilkeston really only created one decent effort on goal which was wasted by James Reid who from only 8yrds out, fired over from a cross by Richards. Blyth held on for the last 15mins to earn a hard fought 3 points.

 

Man of the match for me had to be Aaron Wearmouth. The lanky winger who I’d previously seen play in the colours of Bishop Auckland, had seriously impressed me in the 70mins he did have on the pitch.

Just a quick look into the bar to check up on the latest England score before we set off back home, more than satisfied with what we had seen. Blyth played a lot better than what I had expected and left me in no doubt that this season, could be the season that they make their return to the Skrill North.

Attendance on the night was 311.