Three-mendous effort by the Spartans delights boss Armstrong

BLYTH SPARTANS have perfected the art of convincing victory in far from comfortable circumstances.

For the third consecutive game Blyth have scored three goals without conceding to bolster their promotion ambitions.

They have been worthy of maximum points on each occasion but manager Alun Armstrong is aware they have ridden their luck.

Robbie Dale scored a hat-trick in he 3-0 win at Tamworth in midweek, the Lambs hitting the bar on three occasions. Spartans’ goalkeeper Peter Jameson also pulled off important saves - just as he did in Saturday’s success against Bradford Park Avenue.

Armstrong admitted: “Just as against Tamworth it was never a three-goal game and a few weeks ago we would have lost the match.

“I am chuffed to bits with the lads at the minute. It was not pretty but they put in a real shift.

“Some of our play was poor on a difficult pitch but we dug in, rode our luck a bit and then the second goal settled us down.

“In the first half we had a good 15 minutes and then were battered in all honesty - but it was a workmanlike performance.”

He added: “It was a huge win. We are in a great position and there is a big gap between us and the chasers.

“There is still a long way to go, though, and 33 points still to play for.”

Dale Hopson scored twice for the fourth-placed Spartans, the first a penalty, with Jarrett Rivers scoring in between. ■■SOUTH Shields claimed a 1-0 victory at Clitheroe in the Evo-Stik League North Division.

Former Gateshead striker Graeme Armstrng claimed the winner after just five minutes, Shields visiting Hyde United tomrrow night.