NATIONAL NORTH

IF Blyth Spartans are to get back on the goals trail they will have to do so without top gun Dan Maguire.

Spartans head for title-chasing Salford City today without the England C international, who rolled his ankle at North Ferriby on Saturday.

It is a setback for a Blyth side that has lost its last two games – four weeks apart – without scoring.

Defeats at lowly Leamington and bottom club North Ferriby have dented Blyth’s promotion aspirations.

Manager Alun Armstrong expects a reaction against a Salford side that scored four goals in the last 10 minutes to draw 4-4 at Kidderminster.

Armstrong said: “The timing of Maguire’s injury couldn’t be much worse with Easter coming up and he could be out for a couple of weeks.”

Armstrong was hugely disappointed with the display and result at North Ferriby but expects his side to be up for a big game tonight.

“We were way off the pace at North Ferriby. It could have been that we haven’t played for a month, but I don’t think fitness was an issue.

“We’ve now got to go to Salford and play the way we play. Hopefully it will be different to Saturday as Salford will have a go at us. “Gaps will appear for us to exploit. “We’ve got big games coming up, and I know the lads will turn up for these games.”

Winger Adam Wrightson may return after an ankle injury, along with defender Michael Liddle, who missed the Ferriby defeat due to illness.