Blyth in bid to ‘right a wrong’

BLYTH Spartans’ manager Alun Armstrong has urged his side to go out and enjoy the occasion at St James’ Park tonight.

Spartans take on Northern League outfit North Shields in a re-run of last year’s Techflow Northumberland Senior Cup final.

The Robins sprang a surprise in 2016 when they beat Blyth 4-3 through Ryan Carr’s last-minute winner.

Blyth had lost 4-3 to Workington in the Evo-Stik Premier Division play-off semi-final a week earlier.

Having won the league by some distance this season Spartans are keen to land more silverware.

Manager Alun Armstrong said: “St James’ Park is a great stage for the final and it will be a good occasion for both clubs.

“We are relaxed about it as our main aim this season was to gain automatic promotion and we have achieved that.

“The lads go into the Northumberland Senior Cup final in a much better frame of mind than last year and can express themselves.

“We have had a great season and want to finish it unbeaten in 12 games and with two trophies.

“North Shields have also had another good season but finishing third in the Northern League will be a bit demoralising for them.

“They led the table for so long, only to miss out in the final month. For us we want to right a wrong from last year in the County Cup final.”

A crowd of 2,421 witnessed an epic final in 2016, Blyth leading only to ship three goals after the break.