We have to regroup and get back up – Blyth boss
JON Shaw wants Blyth Spartans to ‘regroup and go again’ after they suffered only the second relegation in their long and proud history on Saturday.
The Croft Park outfit went into their home game against Brackley Town knowing they had to match Farsley Celtic’s result in their meeting with Buxton to preserve their National League North status.
But in reality, the game was over inside the opening half-hour as braces from Morgan Roberts and Danny Newton gave the visitors a four-goal lead by the time the half-time whistle was blown.
Nicky Deverdics reduced the arrears with a penalty, but Dan Turner reinstated Brackley’s four-goal advantage with just under 15 minutes remaining.
However, Spartans’ fate had already been sealed by Farsley’s comfortable home win against Buxton and that left Shaw to ponder what was required as his side prepare for life in the Northern Premier League.
He told The Journal: “We need to regroup and go again, and try to get back to this level.
“Today, as an isolated incident obviously (it went wrong) at the start of the game.
“As the season’s gone on, we’ve failed at the start of games and today was a tough one as we’re playing against a very physical, very experienced National League North side who are where they are in the league for a reason.
“We’ve had an inexperienced squad, and our depth has been tested heavily with injuries which has been backed up by young players. This level is very unforgiving.
“The lads have given it their everything, whether they have been struggling at times mentally or physically being able to do it week-in, week-out and find that level of consistency.”
There was disappointment for South Shields and Spennymoor Town as they narrowly missed out on a place in the National League North play-offs.
The Mariners strolled to a 3-0 home win against Southport thanks to goals from Jordan Hunter, Paul Blackett and Aaron Martin and Spennymoor won by the same scoreline against King’s Lynn Town as Will Harris, Glen Taylor and Rob Ramshaw all found the net.
But Boston United’s 2-0 win at Hereford ensured the Pilgrims snatched a top-seven place and left both North East clubs sat just outside the play-off spots on a dramatic final day of the season.
Darlington’s job had already been completed ahead of Saturday’s goalless draw at Chester after the Quakers secured their National League North status seven days earlier.
The big news for the Quakers was the announcement manager Steve Watson has put pen to paper on a new two-year contract after leading them to safety.
And there was further good news after Watson’s number two Terry Mitchell also committed his future to the club.