Spartans unsure of effect of Cartwright’s England red card

BLYTH Spartans are waiting to see if full-back Andrew Cartwright is facing a spell out on the sidelines after being sent off in midweek.

Cartwright was sent off halfway through his England C debut in Slovakia.

The non-league Lions were trailing by a goal against Slovakia under-23s in the International Challenge Trophy final.

They eventually lost 4-0 and it was a debut to forget for Sunderland graduate Cartwright, who is unlikely to feature for Spartans against Leamington tomorrow.

Blyth boss Alun Armstrong said: “We’re waiting to see how the red card is interpreted and the effect it has, if any, domestically.

“Either way Cartwright is unlikely to start on Saturday. He’s been away with England all week and has done a lot of travelling.”

Former Carlisle United defender David Atkinson has joined Blyth for a second time after a spell in Iceland and is set to play at right-back.

With Spartans having the third worst defence in National League North, despite being fifth, Michael Liddle is also pushing for a recall.

“We are letting far too many goals in,” admitted Armstrong, “we have conceded 33 goals yet only let in 44 in the Evo-Stik league last season. We can’t go on with the mentality of believing we can score more than the opposition every time and need to tighten up.

“The defeats at Brackley and Bradford have been a wake-up call and we need to get back on track against Leamington.”

The 17th-placed Brakes head for Croft Park having claimed five more points on the road, where they’ve lost only twice, than at home.