Spartans complete double signing of Carl Lawson and Ben Liddle

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Carl Lawson. Photo credit: GazetteLive / Ben Liddle. Photo credit: Middlesbrough[/caption]

Blyth Spartans are pleased to announce the deadline day signings of Carl Lawson and Ben Liddle, who join the club until the end of the season.

Lawson, predominantly a striker, joins from Northern League Division One side Seaham Red Star after he teamed up with the Star following his release from Sunderland.

The 23-year-old, who made 53 appearances for the Black Cats U23, has been training with Spartans whilst playing for Seaham.

"He's sharp and works hard," said manager Alun Armstrong.

"We've brought him in to freshen things up with us only having a month left of Macaulay (Langstaff).

"I don't want to leave myself short. It's an opportunity for Carl but he needs to get himself match fit before we look to play him."

He will now bolster Spartans' attack after Armstrong missed out, last minute, on the re-signing of Luke Armstrong.

"It's a shame we couldn't get Luke over the line, you live and hope sometimes but it's one them things," said the Blyth boss.

Liddle, son of former Spartan, Craig Liddle, joins on loan from Middlesborough until the end of the season.

The midfielder, 19, has featured regularly for Boro's U23s, and will now team up with Blyth after Kieran Green's loan from Gateshead expired today.

Armstrong said: "I tried my best to get Kieran but Gateshead wanted to keep him so there is nothing we could do on that front.

"I knew I needed another midfielder. I've known Ben for years, he's a really good technical footballer, left-footer, good deliveries, good passer.

"Ben will give us that bit of quality from midfield by getting on the ball and getting you playing. He'll pick up the ball from the back and hopefully do what Kieran did.

"There's a lot of games to be played, we've got 10 games in six weeks - I needed bodies in. Fingers crossed we have enough to get us into the playoffs."

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