Watson happy to keep it clean

Credit where credit is due. Or so says Spartans left back Ian Watson after he played his part in helping his side keep a hard earned clean sheet that ensured they took all three points from Frickley Athletic for the second time this season. The Spartans back four came under fire after Saturday's home loss against Kings Lynn Town but Watson was delighted to have kept a first clean sheet in the league since the 1-0 win at Witton Albion five weeks ago.

"Obviously we have leaked a few goals recently and as a defender all you want to do is keep a clean sheet. Today we played well as a unit and defended as a team. We would have taken that after Saturday and I think everyone out there deserves credit because it was a real team performance"

Although there have been some mutterings of discontent following the defeat to the Linnets at the weekend Watson was impressed with the reaction of the Green Army during tonight's win. The former Whitley Bay man praised the Croft Park faithful describing their reaction as "brilliant" and wants to see the club as a whole build on the momentum gained during the first three months of the season.

"I think a win just brings us all together doesn't it?. We want everyone at Blyth Spartans, whether that's the team, the directors or the supporters, pulling in the same direction. The crowd have always been brilliant here and tonight they were even better than that. They stuck with us and didn't get frustrated when we couldn't get a second goal. We all want to do well for this club and that showed tonight, we now have to carry that on during the rest of the season"

Spartans take a break from Evo-Stik Northern Premier League action on Saturday as Ramsbottom United make the journey to Croft Park for an FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round tie. Far from taking the game lightly Watson wants to see his side progress, feeling that a good run in the Trophy can "build confidence and momentum" as Spartans head towards the busy league campaign during the winter months.

"Before the Skelmersdale tie I had never played in the FA Trophy before and that was obviously a special tie. If we can get a good run going in the trophy it can help us in the league because it builds confidence and momentum. Saturday is a massive game for the club and we will give it our all as always"