The win almost makes Spartans safe from relegation in the Blue Square North, with Blyth having a much better goal difference than Hucknall Town, the only side who can stop them retaining their status in the division.

In the opening 14 minutes saw Blyth four up with Dale grabbing a hat-trick in nine minutes.

The visitors' cause was not helped after Craig Wilding was sent off for an off the ball kick on Gary Brown.

Sparetans went ahead on five minutes when Gareth Williams got to the by-line and his cross was headed out only as far as Ged Dalton and he set up Dale, who struck first time low into the corner from 18 yards.

On ten minutes Kenny Boyle slipped his pass into the box and Dalton was pulled back but stayed on his feet to steer left footed low past the keeper from close in to make it 2-0.

Within two minutes it was three.

Michael Hedley's cross from the right was headed back across goal by Chris McCabe at the far post and Dale, completely unmarked, hammered the ball into the roof of the net from four yards out.

The game was over on 14 minutes when Dalton skipped past his man wide left and the his low cross saw Dale running diagonally towards the near post deftly pick up his hat-trick via the outside of his right foot from close in.

Spartans knocked it around and had a couple more decent chances but ironically a hash of a mix up between keeper and defender saw the ball fall to Steve Birks to calmly steer a 22-yard effort across goal and into the far corner with the keeper out of his area on 54 minutes.

The rest of the half was basically a non-event but sub Daniel Robinson finished off in style, knocking in McCabes pull back after a cracking switch of play pass by Dale in time added on to make it six.

Blyth Spartans: Adam Bartlett, Michael Hedley, Kenny Boyle, Andrew Leeson, Gareth Williams, Gary Brown (sub Mark Evans), Steve Birks, Chris McCabe, Robert Dale, Adrian Webster (sub Daniel Robinson), Ged Dalton. Subs not used: Graham Fenton, Andy Johnson.

Attendance: 429


Forthcoming Fixtures

• Blue Square North, Saturday, April 19, Boston United, away, kick-off 3pm


• Northumberland Senior Cup Final, Wednesday, April 23, Newcastle Utd Res, at St James' Park, kick-off 7.30pm


• Blue Square North, Saturday , April 26, Leigh RMI, away, kick-off 3pm

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