Spartans are a happy camp now - Turnbull

Blyth Spartans midfielder Stephen Turnbull has described the mood in the dressing room as "fantastic" as they look to barge their way into the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play off spots.

Spartans, thanks to their FA Cup exploits, are playing catch up with their league fixtures and are facing midweek fixtures from now until the end of the season.

That hasn't stopped them going on a run of one defeat in fourteen games and the former Hartlepool United man puts that down to the team spirit on display.

"We have always been strong in the dressing room but in the last six or seven games that has grown. The place is so positive and we all know our roles on the pitch, it's one of the best dressing room atmospheres I have known and they are all good lads in there.

We are all proud to play for this club and when you see the supporters reacting like they do, not just during the cup run either, it makes you want to work even harder for them. It's a fantastic environment to work in now"

Spartans busy schedule continues on Saturday afternoon when Stourbridge make the long trip to Northumberland and Turnbull admitted that he wouldn't want to be an away player at Croft Park anytime soon.

"It's starting to get back to how I remember it the first time around. The atmosphere in the ground is getting louder and intimidating and we feed off that. The players enjoy it and I wouldn't want to face it as an away player, to be honest I would dread it"

There has been a notable change in style from Spartans and several players have benefited from that, however Turnbull picked out two in particular, whilst admitting he was enjoying the change in approach.

"We are keeping it on the floor now and we are attacking teams more. It's a big difference and it has been for the past six or seven games. We are enjoying our football and you look at the different in Matty Wade and Alex Nicholson, they look bright and confident now.

They have grown as footballers and for me, Alex has been one of our best players in that spell. He wants to get forward and join in and the way we play now means he can. As I said we are all loving being able to play the way we are being asked to play now"