Blyth Spartans 5-0 Hereford: Thumping final-day win sees Spartans survive

Blyth Spartans have survived relegation from the National League North after a thumping victory over 10-man Hereford at Croft Park.

Blyth knew even a win may not have been enough to save them from the drop, but quick fire goals from Michael Spellman and Cedric Main gave Spartans a two-goal lead at the break.

Second half goals from Nicky Deverdics, JJ O’Donnell and Jaden Ferguson sealed an emphatic final-day victory.

Blyth knew they had to beat the Bulls to have an hope of staying up, while also requiring results from Farsley Celtic and Kettering Town to go their way.

They got off to the perfect start as Spellman cut in from the left-wing before crashing his effort into the far corner for an early lead.

Main doubled Spartans’ lead moments later with a bullet header past a helpless Dale Eve from O’Donnell’s pin-point cross.

Deverdics made it 3-0 from the spot five minutes into the second half, before Luke Haines was sent off for a reckless challenge on Will McGowan.

It was plain sailing from then on, with O’Donnell volleying into the far corner for 4-0, before Ferguson rounded off the scoring with a clinical one-on-one finish past Eve.

Croft Park erupted after finding out Farsley and Kettering had both lost, confirming Blyth’s survival.