Spartans’ manager Tom Wade hailed Saturday’s 3-0 win at Stourbridge as “one of our best away performances of the season.”
He commented: “We started well but missed a penalty after 15 minutes. If we’d scored then we would have gone on to win the game by a bigger margin. Nevertheless we came back strongly after the miss and ended up winning convincingly.”
Blyth’s opening goal on 22 minutes was direct from a Stephen Turnbull free kick.
“From where I was, on the bench, you could see that the keeper was too far to one side. Obviously Twinny [Turnbull] saw that as well and bent a terrific shot around the wall and into the net. It was a fantastic goal. Twinny has been a revelation since he came back to the club. He helps bring the young lads on and is a natural leader.”
Blyth goalkeeper Nick Thomson ensured his side went in to the break one goal up with two crucial saves.
Wade said: “I’ve been hugely impressed with Nick since he came to Blyth. He joined us to play for a place in the side when Peter Jeffries held the number one jersey. He was expecting to wait for his chance but then straight away Peter broke his thumb and Nick was in the team. He kicks well, his talking is fantastic and he fits in very well with the other lads.”
Wade didn’t need to say much to his charges at the interval. Simply to keep on playing the way they were and trust each other.
“Some of the football we played at the weekend was totally outstanding,” he said. “It was a great all round performance reflected in the two goals we went on to score. The front three of Rivers, Dale and Maguire worked so very hard. Jarrett [Rivers] gets kicked down and just bounces back up and gets on with things. It’s great to see. Nipa [Maguire] ran as tirelessly as ever before he had to go off feeling unwell. And Robbie [Dale} worked hard after the penalty miss and hit a magnificent 40 yard cross-field ball for Jarrett to attack with and score.
“The third goal saw Daniel Hawkins drive forward and calmly pass the ball in to the net. Dan is a great finisher and I think his best position may be centre forward rather than midfield. When he was one on one with the keeper I knew he’d score.”
Wade explained his use of the substitutes.
“Nipa had received a blow to the head in the first half and was feeling a bit dizzy, not concussed. Danny Parker had to be replaced due to a tight groin while Ryan Hutchinson got a dead-leg. I’m hoping all three will be ok for our game at Nantwich on Tuesday although it must be said that the lads who replaced them played their own important parts in picking up the three points.”