For the Spartans manager Harry Dunn kept faith with the side which were unlucky not to come away from Hinckley with all 3 points the week previous. However, Andrew Thompson replaced Kenny Boyle on the subs bench.

The result could have been a lot different if Spartans had been able to convert their numerous chances. In under a minute, Robert Dale flicked on a ball out of the Spartans defence into the run of Michael Maidens, the Spartans striker running on into the penalty area before attempting a curling shot past the advancing Craig Dootson in the United goal, but not the only time during the 90 minutes, Dootson was equal to the effort.

However, it was the visitors who took the led on 17 minutes. The former York City player manager Chris Brass played a well weighted ball into the Blyth penalty area, for Dale Johnson to flick on to Chris Simm who held off the challenge of Richard Forster to slot home.

Spartans rallied with Dale setting up Chris McCabe – whose header went narrowly over.

But the killer goal came on 34 minutes. A corner conceded on the Hyde right, saw Nathan Wharton float his corner kick deep to the far post where Peter Band managed to head home, under heavy pressure from Snowdon and Forster.

The visitors were quite happy to sit back in the 2nd half soaking up the Spartans pressure.

A long throw from Michael Hedley found Dale in the penalty area, only to see a combination of Brass and Dootson keeping the United goal intact.

Hedley got a volley in which went inches past the upright from a Christian Graham corner.

Spartans: - 1 Adam Bartlett, 2 Ben Christensen (sub Michael Hedley), 3 Andrew Leeson, 4 Michael Coulthard, 5 Richard Forster, 6 Peter Snowdon, 7 Chris McCabe, 8 Gareth Williams, 9 Robert Dale, 10 Michael Maidens (sub Scott Bell), 11 Richard Hodgson (sub Christian Graham),
Subs not used: Graham Fenton and Andrew Thompson