Tom talks - after the Marine game

Blyth boss Tom Wade was left dejected after seeing his side just miss out on a playoff spot losing 2-1 at home to Marine on Saturday.

"We are all very down, to be honest," he said. "We are struggling squad-wise. I said after [Nathan] Buddle left for Carlisle that we were a bit short and we've been scratching around for centre halves and then Hutchy [Ryan Hutchinson] got injured. We should have invested in a centre half when we had the chance. Unfortunately we didn't and it's cost us over the last ten games or so.

"You can't put your best midfield player at left back and another top midfielder at centre half. You just can't do it, and it cost us."

Wade was unhappy with the two goals his side conceded.

"For their first one Wadey [Mathew Wade] should have done better but Lloyd Ellams is good player and he finished well. Him and Andy Owens worked hard all afternoon for Marine. Their second goal was poor as well from our point of view but, you know, they were fighting for their lives. I've been in those positions and a different mentality takes over. That along with our lads looking a bit tired did for us. Mind, with the chances we created we could have won it."