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Spartans suffer opening day defeat by Harriers

Document Cited in Related
Vincent
Published date07 August 2022
Publication titleSunday Sun
The former Walsall and Boston United frontman struck eight minutes after half-time to ensure Terry Mitchell's side got their season of fto a losing start

It had all seemed far more positive during the opening stages of the game as Spartans pressed forward in search of an opening blow on a side tipped by many for a title challenge this season.

Former Newcastle United youngster Lewis McNall has been thrust into the role as Spartans' number nine and he looked more than up for the challenge in the early stages.

With just three minutes on the clock, the frontman linked up well with Corey McKeown before releasing Michael Richardson into the right-hand side of the area.

The former South Shields and Hebburn Town midfielder took on the effort at the first attempt - but saw his goalbound shot bravely blocked by Harriers defender Kristin Pearce.

An opening quarter-hour full of energy and intensity from Terry Mitchell's men almost brought reward on 17 minutes when McNall came to the fore once again.

The striker created an opening for himself as he beat two challenges on the edge of the area and was only denied a first goal of the season by a smart save from visitors number one Tom Palmer.

You simply could not keep McNall out of the game during the first halfhour and he was at the heart of a moment of controversy as the midway point of the half approached.

McNall contested an aerial ball in the centre-circle with Pearce and seemed to be caught by a forceful elbow by the Harriers centre-back.

With the majority of those inside Croft Park pleading for what would have been a deserved red card, referee Helen Conley opted for a more lenient approach and showed Pearce a yellow.

The visitors had shown little in the way of genuine threat as half-time approached but that all changed with the final 10 minutes of the half approaching.

The ever-dangerous Tom Owen-Evans saw a goalbound shot blocked by Spartans defender Toby Lees before Ethan Freemantle lashed over the crossbar from point-blank range just two minutes before the interval.

The half-time whistle brought a wave of appreciation from...

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