A bad day at the office. That was Blyth manager Tom Wade’s verdict on Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at Croft Park against Kendal.
“It was a very open game,” he said. “We went for it but it left us vulnerable to their counter attacks. We didn’t take our chances when we were on top and, in addition, we gifted them chances.
“Kendal’s first goal was a joke. We’d had a warning just before it but we didn’t clear our lines and paid the price.”
Blyth’s Neal Hooks equalised eight minutes after Simon Rawnsley’s 27th minute opener.
“We’ve been trying to get Neal further up the pitch so I was pleased to see him score. It was a cool finish. We were on top at that stage of the match and half time probably came too early for us,” said Wade.
He continued: “We had to try and match Kendal’s endeavour after the break but we couldn’t muster enough to win. It meant more to them than us. It shouldn’t be like that but it was.”
A 71st minute penalty was converted by Danny Mitchley to put the visitors ahead.
“The players and crowd were uncertain about the ref’s decision but I don’t know if it was a pen or not. You’ve just got to get on with it. Their third goal came from our keeper passing straight to Mitchley who drove the ball back and in to the net! I haven’t seen anything like that for a long time!” said the Blyth boss.
Spartans’ quixotic Robbie Dale missed the game through injury.
“We missed the kind of player Robbie is, with drive and a bit of magic and who can get the ball down and play,” said Wade. “But we can’t rely on Robbie totally.”