Tom talks - after the FC United of Manchester game

After witnessing his side's 3-0 defeat at the hands of FC United of Manchester on Saturday Blyth manager Tom Wade said: "We never got going at all. The occasion got to us and we froze-and that applied to our senior players as well as the younger lads. It was hard to pick out anyone who had a good game although Conor Grant did well with some excellent saves. FC United were lively up front with some good movement. We just couldn't handle them."

In the first period the Spartans had their backs so hard up against the wall they were almost on the other side of it as the hosts dominated proceedings.

FC united finally made the break through after 33 minutes.

"We defended poorly to let Tom Davies head home," thought Wade. "Actually in the final five minutes of the half we started to get some possession which we carried on after the interval with our midfielders getting a lot tighter and competitive. Matty Wade had our only chance of the game after ten minutes with a header but their second goal finished us off."

A third goal in the dying minutes compounded Blyth's misery.

"Their manager said that that was his side's best performance of the season and I think it was our worst," said Wade. "We lacked energy and perhaps the game on Wednesday at Bedlington had some influence. We were carrying four injured players but that's not an excuse.

The Blyth boss looked to make a special effort to acknowledge the travelling fans after the final whistle.

"Yes, and I'd like to thank them again. It was a bad result for us but they stuck by us till the end," he said. "If we can all stand firm we can get back to winning ways, hopefully on Saturday, when Marine come to Croft Park."