Spencer travelled to Eynesbury on changeable spring afternoon, lovely when the sun was out but chilly in the Northerly wind when it went behind the clouds, but a decent afternoon for Spencer’s penultimate game.
Ben Stone brought back Munya Matiyenga into central midfield to replace Michael Parkes and Stuart Lutter was forced back I to action after a break of several months to replace the injured Aaron Lee.
Spencer started the better of the two sides and Luke Stone initiated a move that gave Liam Tuck the chance to send over a decent cross that Ryan Dove fired just over the top. Jacob Gartland broke up an Eynesbury break and found Dove on the right. He whipped in a cross but a defender got a boot to it, Gartland had carried on into the box and flicked it on towards Matiyenga, but Conor Inskip was able to get a foot to it first. Matt Long was almost in on goal as he ran through, but a timely intervention from Ben Hickling meant Spencer had to settle for a corner. Tuck swung it in, Dan Stevenson got up well to head it back and Dove, under a lot of pressure, got his head to it but couldn’t get a clear connection.
Daril Ngwala made a good run at the Spencer defence but Stevenson came across to stop him in his tracks. Stone played a free kick on half way into the visitor’s box, James Ducket got a head on it but couldn’t get any distance and Dove tried an overhead kick, but he didn’t get through it cleanly and the ball went harmlessly wide. Rovers broke down the right flank through full back Hickling who drilled a low cross into the box that Stuart Lutter had to get down to take at his near post. Shortly afterwards Eynesbury managed to break clear through Lee Bassett, but Lutter got down well to turn his shot around the post with a very good save.
Matt Long had already had treatment on what appeared to be a groin injury and after going down for a second time, Spencer were forced into an early sub with Ashley Clamp taking over on the left with just 36 minutes gone. He still seemed to be feeling it sometime later so it may well be the last we see of Matty in a Spencer shirt which would be a real shame.
Back on the attack, Gartland did really well to keep the ball in at full pace and then got past Ngwala, but his delivery was poor on this occasion. Dove then made one of his powerful runs through the home defence, but he was unfortunate that the ball ran away from him on the hard bumpy surface and the keeper was able to gather. Gartland was also involved in the next threat as Dan Stevenson got his head to the young full backs throw and Matiyenga met it with a first time shot, but the De Garis was right behind it, although it was Spencer’s first effort on target despite their positive attacking play.
Rhys Thorpe saw his right wing cross taken comfortably by Lutter while play was soon back at the other end as a great ball from Stone gave Matiyenga space just outside the box, but he didn’t attack it as he might have and instead tried to find Séan McBride just inside the area. The ball came to the midfield man at an awkward height and although he hit on the volley, he skimmed the ball somewhat and it spun up and the keeper had a simple task of gathering it as it came down. Ngwala managed to get in a shot under pressure from around twenty yards that deflected wide for a corner, but once again Lutter commanded his area and took the set piece cleanly at height. As the half came to an end, Spencer broke down the right. Dove gave Clamp the chance to cross with a great lay-off, but the sub couldn’t get his foot round it enough and it went over and out for a goal kick.
Half-time; Eynesbury Rovers 0 Spencer 0.
The home side made a change at the break with leading scorer Matt Bannister coming off the bench to replace Rhys Thorpe but it was Spencer who still held the upper hand. McBride won the ball on the middle of the park and found the feet of Luke Bartley. The big striker laid it wide to Clamp, but his attempted return pass was cut out. Then five minutes into the half, Spencer broke the deadlock and a lovely goal it was too. A brilliant turn and pass across the box from Ryan Dove was met at the far post by Luke Bartley’s run and the striker gave the keeper no chance with his finish. One-nil to Spencer and deserved at this point too.
Eynesbury tried to respond immediately and once again Stuart Lutter came to the rescue as Bassett got through again and tried to beat the keeper with a powerful low drive, but Lutter got down to block his shot. Spencer were clearly hungry for a second and McBride, getting forward more than usual, got himself in the box and appeared to be pulled back, but the referee saw matters differently and penalised the Spencer number eight. Gartland did well to defend another Ngwala run then Tuck seemed a little unlucky to go into the book for a foul on Bannister around the half way line just before Rovers made their second change, with Alex Marsh coming on for Conor Inskip. Ryan Dove was earning his corn today with another great performance, typified by his winning a header in his own box from a Rovers free kick, then making a vital tackle in the same move in a rare nervous moment for Spencer.
McBride set up Dove twenty-five yards out and he hit a sweet volley that flew into the keeper’s arms. Eynesbury made their last swap with twenty-two minutes left as James Ducket made way for Mark Van Berg as they tried to turn things around but again it was Spencer who went close to adding to their lead. A lovely Liam Tuck cross was brought down by Dove and although his shot was blocked by Owen Dixon, he was first to the loose ball, only to see his shot go wide of the target this time. Jack Bartley replaced goal hero brother Luke for the last eighteen minutes before the referee decided it was time to fill his notebook. Lutter was first into the book for dissent, followed three minutes later by Clamp for the same misdemeanour.
Clamp then gets a namecheck for the right reason, as his determination saw him get over a cross into the dangerzone, but Van Berg was able to get to it first and clear. It was Eynesbury’s turn to pick up a few fines next with Robert Ducket and Ngwala both seeing yellow for dissent a couple of minutes apart before Ryan Dove joined them, somewhat harshly I felt, for a foul.
A great run and cut in from Jack Bartley was stopped by a timely tackle from Ducket and Tuck played in another good corner that Dove headed goal wards, but De Garis punched away as Stevenson went in for the kill. Spencer’s last swap saw Paul Pickering in the yellow and green for the last ever time as he replaced Clamp for the last few minutes and he almost followed the Roy of The Rovers script, but his right foot shot from twenty yards was deflected wide of the post. Right foot!
A great win for Spencer against the team in fourth spot and it was wonderful to see exactly what it meant to Ben Stone and his players at the final whistle. Everyone deserves credit for this performance which makes it hard to pick out a man of the match. Luke Bartley for his winning goal, Ryan Dove for making it, making other chances and for being there in his own box when needed. All the back four played extremely well, while Luke Stone was formidable in more of a holding role than usual. Séan McBride was superb, but then he always is, Matt Long looked lively before his injury, Ashley Clamp put in so much effort after coming on earlier than expected, Jack Bartley had some good runs in the short time he was on and Paul Pickering made his mark despite only being on for a few minutes. His enthusiasm and love of Northampton Spencer Football Club typifies the feelings we all share at this moment. That leaves just one player and my man-of-the-match today. Stuart Lutter, hasn’t played for months but stepped in to cover for Aaron Lee and kept the clean sheet he wanted before the game. Two great saves from Eynesbury's only two real efforts at goal. Took every cross cleanly and will probably be aching in the morning! Two other players who deserve a big mention and Curtis Avery and Ryan Ansell. Both injured but make the trip to St Neots to be a part of the squad. Just shows the great team spirit we have at The Mill.
Only one more game to go now, Harborough Town away next Saturday so let’s end the season on a high and hope that a miracle happens and Spencer are still around next August.
Eynesbury; 1. Kyle De Garis 2. Ben Hickling 3. Owen Dixon 4. Conor Inskip (sub 14. Alex Marsh 62) 5. James Ducket 6. Robert Ducket © 7. Rhys Thorpe (sub 12. Matt Bannister ht) 8. Joe Bradbury (sub 15. Mark Van Berg 68) 9. Lee Bassett 10. James Freshwater 11. Daril Ngwala. Sub not used 16. Elliott Bentley.
Spencer; 1. Stuart Lutter 2. Jacob Gartland 3. Liam Tuck 4. Dan Stevenson 5. Alex Lowery 6. Munya Matiyenga 7. Ryan Dove 8. Séan McBride 9. Luke Bartley (sub 12. Jack Bartley 72) 10. Luke Stone © 11. Matt Long (sub 14. Ashley Clamp 36 – sub 15. Paul Pickering 85). Subs not used 16. Curtis Avery 17. Ryan Ansell.

Just a mention for Eynesbury Rovers. A great club and great people who were gracious in defeat. Love their ground too and wish them well next season.