Three losses in week for Spartans

BLYTH Spartans suffered a third defeat inside a week as play-off contenders Kettering Town battled to all three points at Croft Park.

Terry Mitchell’s side made a nightmare start as former South Shields forward Callum Stead fired the Poppies in front inside the opening two minutes.

The frontman pounced on some poor defending and kept his calm to slot a shot beyond Alex Mitchell to give his side the foundations for their win.

That would be the first of a series of chances for Kettering Town as Decarrey Sheriff, Jordon Crawford and Stead all went close to adding a second goal. But it was Spartans who struck next as long-serving forward Robbie Dale got his side back on level terms with a free kick that deflected off the wall before somehow finding its way into the back of the net.

Mitchell’s men almost went ahead just after the half-hour as Dale saw a powerful shot blocked and Dan Maguire sent an effort narrowly wide of the far post.

The visitors hit back as Mitchell produced a fine stop to deny Crawford – but it was a temporary reprieve for Spartans as Kettering got themselves back in front just four minutes before half time when the same player hit a shot that beat the Spartans

stopper with the aid of a deflection.

Whatever was said in the home dressing room during the interval made an impact as, in the second half, Spartans enjoyed the majority of possession and came close to an equaliser through Maguire and strike partner Sado Djalo. They maintained their pressure but were almost hit by a sucker punch in the closing stages when Sheriff fired woefully wide.

But it mattered little as the visitors stood firm and extended Spartans poor run of form.