Hamilton Academical 0 Blyth Spartans 4 (Match Summary)

Blyth travelled to South Lanarkshire to face Hamilton Academical side that had finished a highly creditable seventh in last season's Scottish Premier League.

With star striker Paul Brayson unavailable due to holidays, Spartans Manager Mick Tait went with a front two of John Alexander and Ian Graham, with Rob Dale playing off the front two and it was Dale who dealt the first blow, good work from Alexander and Stephen Harrison found Dale on the right edge of the Hamilton penalty area and with options left and right decided to go on his own and produce a fine swerving drive with the outside of his right foot that crept into the bottom corner.

The remainder of the half was highly competitive affair with Blyth producing long spells of effective quick passing football.

The second half was in much the same vein, Blyth continued to play good stuff and this was bolstered by the arrival of former Darlington youngster Danny Groves in place of Ian Graham, meaning that Blyth reverted to a five man midfield with John Alexander providing the focus of the attack.

The change in formation didn't stop Blyth extending their lead, Stephen Turnbull produced a low cross field pass to Groves and following a defensive mix-up, Groves was on hand to chip the ball over the advancing 'keeper to give Blyth a 2-0 lead.

Better was to follow for the Spartans, first John Alexander muscled his way past two defenders before shooting across goal to make the score 3-0, and in the dying seconds of the match, the highly impressive Turnbull stuck a free-kick which deflected off the wall leaving the stranded Hamilton 'keeper with no chance to give Blyth a four goal cushion.

This was a highly impressive, hard working display from the Spartans against a side featuring several first team regulars who will pit their wits against Rangers and Celtic in the upcoming season and this augurs well for Blyth's upcoming Blue Square Bet North campaign.

Spartans round off their pre-season campaign this Saturday (7 Aug) at home to Durham City.

Team: Grieveson, Harrison, Cave, Tait, Swailes (C), Buchanan, Hooks, Turnbull, Alexander, Graham (Groves), Dale

Subs (not used): Cunningham