Blyth Spartans’ manager Mick Tait (Pictured Left) is relishing the prospect of taking on Newcastle Reserves in this Wednesday’s Northumberland Senior Cup Final at St. James’ Park.
“We’re going into the game not just to take part, but to win,” he enthused.
“The players and everyone at the club wants to pick up the trophy. It will, of course, be difficult as they have some really good players – but so do we.
“It’s unfortunate that we go into the match on the back of some poor form which came about when we realised we couldn’t get in to the play offs for promotion. But even in the matches where we didn’t get results, like at Boston and Worcester, we did have good spells.”
Tait added: “Our problem is we haven’t been scoring goals and this puts pressure on the defence and the whole team. Nevertheless I’m confident we can do well on Wednesday”.
Tait is aware of the opposition having watched then on several occasions and due to the fact that his side played them in a friendly during the enforced winter break.
The Spartans trained on Tuesday and Friday last week in preparation for the game and Tait hopes to have a full squad available minus midfielder Nicky Deverdics who has left to play in Iceland.
“Nicky has gone over for the remainder of the Icelandic season,” said Tait. “However I believe he has a get out clause which could see him return to England in July.
“He doesn’t work so he has had to go to find football. He had hoped to stay with us for the Final but his club wouldn’t allow it which is a real shame for him”.