Match Report
Blyth Spartans, 22nd on 18 points, faced a 34-point deficit to Bamber Bridge (13th, 52). Bamber Bridge ranked 5th in the league on five-round form, well above their 13th table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Bamber Bridge 1.55 scored and 1.67 conceded per game, Blyth Spartans 0.9 and 2.38, with the league averaging 1.46.
A win had eluded Blyth Spartans for 5 matches.
The match was played at Sir Tom Finney Stadium in Preston (capacity 3,000). Half-time and full-time told different stories: Bamber Bridge led 3-1 at the break, before 2 more goals closed it at 5-1.