Shaw hails youngsters’ contribution to injury-hit Spartans

BLYTH Spartans manager Jon Shaw has admitted he is having to rely on some of his younger players as he contends with a lengthy injury list.

Shaw went into Tuesday night’s home clash with National League North title contenders Scunthorpe United with the likes of striker JJ Hooper, full-back Michael Liddle and winger JJ O’donnell.

Despite facing a big-spending Iron side, Spartans remained in the game and snatched a last-gasp point when visitors keeper Ross Fitzsimmons could only parry a Billy Gordon shot into the air and into the back of his own net. Spartans earned an impressive point with young trio Gordon, Charlie Aitken and Harry Arnison all playing some part and they seem likely to be handed further opportunities to impress when Shaw’s side host Buxton at Croft Park on Saturday.

Speaking after Tuesday’s draw, Shaw told BSAFCTV: “I could stand here and say how proud I am of them all because they are having to play as a squad.

“The ones that are fit and available are having to play a lot of minutes, a lot of tough minutes home and away, and they have to keep doing that because we haven’t got the replacements, no matter how hard we work to try and bring them in.

“We are having to lean on some of the younger players in the squad. Charlie Aitken came on at the weekend and created a penalty and got another opportunity. Billy getting his first minutes in a few weeks and being a big part of the goal.

“Harry has struggled with his broken foot, he’s come back and has a bit of a sore tendon, so we have to manage that as well but it was really good for us to get minutes into the legs, valuable minutes against a top team and that will stand them in great stead.”

After a free midweek, South Shields will return to action with a long trip to relegation-threatened Gloucester City. Remarkably, the game provides the Mariners with the third of four consecutive away fixtures with Saturday’s trip to New Meadow Park followed by a Tuesday night visit to Alfreton Town.

A win against the Tigers could see Elliott Dickman’s side move level on points with Curzon Ashton if the seventh-placed side are unable to take anything from their visit to Scunthorpe tomorrow afternoon.