Even after his side’s emphatic victory at Skelmersdale on Saturday in the FA Cup Spartans manager Tom Wade suggested that ‘there is loads more to come from this team’.
Blyth went in to the draw for the 3rd Qualifying round after a comfortable 4-1 win on Merseyside.
“We played exceptionally well,” said Wade. “Jarrett [Rivers] took his goal really well. It was a great goal and he’s a great lad. He works hard and is full of energy. I can see him being a top top player and firm fans favourite in the future. He just needs to improve on his finishing.”
Following Rivers’ strike the home side equalised before the interval.
Wade said: “We took our foot off the pedal a bit once we were ahead but it was a fantastic hit by their lad. It was from quite a distance and swerved so Peter [Jeffries] in our goal stood no chance. You’ve just got to say to Strickland – well done! After half time we had to replace Neal Hooks with Dan Hawkins because of a hamstring injury and he did well.
“Wadey [Matthew Wade] put us ahead again with a top drawer goal. I was pleased for him as he’d worked hard bearing in mind he’s five or six games away from full fitness. We got over 70 minutes from him and Damon Mullen took over his role very well.
Robbie Dale extended Blyth’s lead with a typically capricious effort.
“We were playing with a lot of confidence by that stage and Robbie’s goal reflected that self belief. He was Man of the Match for me,” said Wade.
Daniel Maguire sealed the victory in the dying minutes.
Wade commented: “Nipa [Maguire] certainly took it well. Mind you he would admit that he could easily have scored three or four, but his work rate was phenomenal.
“All in all we played really well across the team and the brilliant supporters helped us to do that. They turned up in numbers and in great voice. We’d like to thank every one of them!”