Revenge would be right up Spartans’ street as they host Avenue

BLYTH Spartans are on a revenge mission when they take on play-off rivals Bradford Park Avenue at Croft Park tomorrow.

The Yorkshiremen inflicted Spartans’ heaviest league defeat of the season in November at the Horsfall Stadium.

A poor performance saw Blyth go down 4-1 that day.

Spartans’ manager Alun Armstrong is keen to put the record straight.

He said: “We were battered at Bradford but having to kick-off two hours early killed us in terms of preparation.

“They are on the fringe of the playoffs, but if we can beat them on Saturday we will go nine points ahead of them.

“We certainly owe them one. We were poor at their place and did not do ourselves justice.”

Blyth enter the game on the back of successive 3-0 victories over Brackley Town and Tamworth, the latter on Tuesday.

Robbie Dale scored a hat-trick on the artificial surface at The Lamb, where the hosts were frustrated by the woodwork on three occasions.

Armstrong, no fan of plastic pitches, believes his side - fifth in the table - have turned the corner after a barren run. He added: “We have had two good wins and kept clean sheets in both of them.

“It is just what we needed after a disappointing run.”

Armstrong, set to sign former Airdrie centre-back Joe Gorman, has heaped praise on Gateshead loanee Kieran Green.

He said: “We have managed to get Green back for a second loan spell and he was immense for us against Brackley.”