Tom talks - after the FC United of Manchester game

Spartans' manager Tom Wade felt his side deserved a draw against high flying FC United of Manchester on Saturday.

"I was proud of us despite losing the game one nil," said Wade. "We did enough to earn a point. Having said that we maybe lacked a little drive and although we played some decent stuff we never got beyond their centre halves.

"Their goal came from the only time we switched off. We lost the ball in midfield and allowed [Mathew] Wolfenden to run from midfield, which was disappointing. Neither side created much and it was difficult for Nipa [Daniel Maguire] up front for us to get anywhere as FC United played five at the back. I felt for him because, although we played some lovely passing football in the middle, we didn't get people round the back of them to provide for him and neither did we get any flick ons to him, on which he thrives."

Wade commented that after the match FC United manager was complimentary about the Spartans.

" Karl Marginson said he was aware that the Matty Wade and Nipa partnership was likely to be a threat. That was nice of him to say as I hadn't really thought of it like that before!"

In fact Wade missed the game and is likely to be out of action for a week or two through injury. The same applies to fellow midfielder Lewis Horner.

The Blyth boss will, however, have Ash Davis and Ryan Cummings back for Tuesday's Northumberland Senior Cup semi-final replay against Ashington at Croft Park. Recently signed midfielder Ryan Hutchinson is cup-tied.

A bonus for the Spartans was the return to the starting eleven at the weekend of centre back Arjun Purewal. Wade said;" Arj did very well. I asked him to play out of position at right back and he agreed immediately. He went on to give an assured performance."