The defeat leaves the Spartans looking over their shoulder going into the last month of the Blue Square North campaign.

Spartans had the ball in the net after only seven minutes when Michael Hedley struck a beautiful volley from outside the penalty area – but the assistant belatedly flagged for offside.

The Spartans pressed the self destruct button on 25 minutes.

Bobby Wilson for Hucknall played the ball out wide on the left to Eric Graves whose centre across the edge of the penalty area should have been easily cleared by Peter Snowdon but he miss-timed his clearance only to see the ball run on to Peter Knox, who took the ball into the area before slotting home past Adam Bartlett in the home goal.

Worse was to follow eight minutes later when a free kick from the right was missed by Bartlett and Knox pounced for his second of the afternoon.

Spartans were given a lifeline it seemed when Hucknall's captain Ian Robinson was sent off for a stray elbow in the face of Ben Christensen.

But Spartans failed to make their numerical advantage tell.

With eight minutes left, Christensen lifted home hopes with a well taken effort – but after this Spartans failed to make any chances.

Blyth Spartans: Adam Bartlett, Ben Christensen, Andrew Leeson, Peter Snowdon (sub Andrew Johnson), Gareth Williams, Gary Brown, Michael Hedley (sub Adrian Webster), Chris McCabe, Martin Houlahan, Tony Stephenson (sub Steve Birks), Alex Gildea. Subs not used: Graham Fenton, Kenny Boyle.

Attendance was 440.

Forthcoming Blue Square North fixtures

• Easter Saturday, March 22, Burscough, away, 3pm


• Easter Monday, March 24, Hinckley, home, 3pm


• Saturday, March 29, Kettering, home, 3pm