While the new Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, due to be published later this month, is likely to introduce cuts across the board Blyth Spartans’ own financial monitoring system has already resulted in a reduced budget and associated wage cuts across the playing staff.
Rather than bring in swingeing cuts Blyth manager Mick Tait has made the difficult decision to sacrifice some players in order to minimise the reductions for others. Full back Stephen Harrison has signed for Spennymoor while midfielder Callum Smith returns to the County Durham club. Second choice goalkeeper Sam Grieveson has also left Croft Park in search of regular football.
“All the lads wanted to stay,” said Tait on the back of what he called ‘ a very difficult fortnight’ which started with his side beaten in the FA Cup at Vauxhall Motors and the club then insisting wage cuts were implemented on the back of revenue through attendances falling short of expectation.
However on the playing side Tait saw the writing on the wall a week earlier.
“Up till then we were playing well as a unit but the first sign of cracks appeared when we drew with Vauxhall at home in a League game. The cracks started to open in the FA Cup game and also in the following game, another defeat, at Redditch,” he said.
On Saturday Blyth went down 3-1 at home to Gainsborough Trinity, cracks in evidence, although Tait made no attempt to plaster them over.
“Yes, I have to say that we put in a lot of work but it was disjointed. As individuals we tried hard but it wasn’t a collective effort. It was a splintered performance once more.
“It was our defence which let us down badly at the weekend. All three of their goals we gave away badly and although Gainsborough did pass the ball around well, they didn’t hurt us otherwise. For the first goal we lost the ball in the centre of midfield and we only had Wayne Buchanan left in defence and Kendall was able to finish easily. Then early in the second half we failed to stop a cross coming in and, although we had three defenders against only one of their forwards in our box, we somehow let the ball drop to McMahon at the far post to tap in. The third goal summed up our day with our keeper Jake Cunningham taking too long to clear and being closed down by Kendall – the ball ricocheting against him and in to the net.”
“We had some chances late on and I have to say Gainsborough are better than their League standing may suggest. I can see them having another good run just as they did last season.”
The Spartans did have their opportunities in the game with John Alexander failing to convert two one-on-ones and Paul Brayson hitting the post. Brayson did, however, pull a goal back after 74 minutes delightfully curling a right foot shot into the top corner of the visitors’ net.
One bright spot was the performance of former Sunderland winger Liam O’Mahoney. In a tactical switch Tait left Robbie Dale on the bench in favour of the young Irishman.
“Liam did well. He hasn’t played much recently so he showed a little lack of fitness and strength but he got some good crosses in and is certainly one to persevere with,” thought Tait.
Tait continued, “There’s no getting away from it – we’ve lost too many games this year. There’s no easy way to turn things around and not much going for us at the moment but we’ll just have to roll our sleeves up and battle away. The spirit is still good and it’s my job to get us playing well again but it’s difficult with form. Form and confidence aren’t like taps – you can’t just turn them on.”
This is true, but Blyth clearly need to stop leaking goals – starting at Eastwood Town next weekend.