Skipper slams sloppy defense

Blyth Spartans skipper Wayne Buchanan is demanding more solid defensive displays from his team-mates next time out after they came away empty handed from league leaders North Ferriby United on New Year's Day, writes Mark Carruthers.

The Spartans went down 3-2 in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division after a brave show that included a brace of goals from Ryan McGorrigan and Buchanan is blaming a sloppy performance at the back for the defeat.

The defender said: "It's disappointing and you probably don't look at the positives straight away after conceding three goals but as a defender you have to look at them. They had the pressure but didn't create a lot but they did take their chances and we made it too easy for them."

Buchanan is still feeling positive enough after the performance though and believes Spartans are moving in the right direction under manager Paddy Atkinson.

Spartans welcome Matlock Town to Croft Park on Saturday and the skipper declared: "The positives are we have opened up a very good side on numerous occasions and really could have taken something from them. We are getting closer to where we should be and there are more options in the squad now than we have had in the past. There’s been a lot of chopping and changing but maybe we are closer to settling down.

"We have had a tough December in terms of opposition and we have played the best teams in the league, showing ourselves well without getting results. Now we need to start picking up wins starting on Saturday."

The Spartans skipper has been the mainstay of the back four this season and despite the defeat praised for Richie Slaugher after the former Newcastle Benfield defender became his sixth centre back partner of the campaign.

He added: "Richie has impressed me ever since he has been at the club and probably deserved to play more last season. He’s technically a very very good player and he can do a job anywhere in defence or midfield for us so he’s useful in the squad, he’s a great player and he has shown it again today."