WITTON Albion returned to the Premier Division’s bottom four after this defeat, but in every other respect they continue to head in the right direction.

A late winner from substitute Matthew Wade secured a third home win this week for Blyth Spartans, and meant Tony Sullivan’s men returned home empty-handed after a gallant second-half performance.

In February they had lost 4-2 at Croft Park when occupying a similar position in the table, only back then they wilted after the break.

Cruelly, the home side scored the game’s decisive goal during Witton’s best spell of the contest when Wade – less than two minutes after his introduction – stooped low to divert Jarret Rivers’ cross under goalkeeper Dean Porter’s body.

Albion almost pinched a point with the game’s penultimate kick in stoppage time, but Alex Nicholson blocked Alex Titchiner’s shot on the line.

Sullivan, unsurprisingly, had kept faith with the side that won so convincingly at Buxton in midweek.

Seeking a third successive win for the first time this term, they ran into much less obliging opponents than the Bucks.

Blyth, beaten only once in the league since September 9, were vibrant.

They advanced often through mercurial captain Robbie Dale, who was spoilt for choice when picking a pass with Rivers, debutant Michael Richardson and Daniel Maguire a blur of movement around him.

John Shaw’s sliding tackle thwarted Richardson after he had charged down Ben Harrison’s attempted clearance, then Maguire headed too high from close range.

Harrison had to smuggle Richardson’s header to safety from under the crossbar as Albion resisted relentless pressure.

Their defence was prized open on 34 minutes when Dale, after drifting into a central position from the left, steered a perfectly-weighted pass into Maguire’s path.

His finish added flourish.

Spartans were denied another goal in the seconds before the interval, this time when Jon Dawson hacked the ball clear after Rivers nudged it goal-wards.

Blyth, perhaps because legs were tired on a heavy pitch or instead wishing to conserve energy ahead of an FA Cup date with neighbours Hartlepool on Friday, were not so buoyant in the second period.

Witton, still only a goal adrift, sensed as much.

They sounded a warning when Dawson’s burst down the left ended with Titchiner heading too close to goalkeeper Peter Jeffries.

Danny Andrews conjured the visitors’ next chance, but Damon Mullen stretched to smother Jamie Henders’ shot.

It felt inevitable then when John Shaw’s beautifully-timed header from Joe Shaw’s corner scorched into the net on 71 minutes.

That head of steam was halted by Wade shortly afterwards.

Nicholson was allowed to raid unopposed down Witton’s left, from where Rivers swept in an inviting centre for the substitute.

Again Albion rallied, going closest when Titchiner’s attempt from another Shaw corner – incorrectly awarded – reached him in a shooting space.

“We had a right good go at them,” said Sullivan afterwards.

“We might have got a point, perhaps should have done, but a lapse in concentration has cost us dearly.”

Blyth (4-3-3) Jeffries (GK), Nicholson, Buddle, Parker, Mullen, Turnbull (Hooks 76), Hawkins, Richardson (Wade 76), Rivers, Maguire (Wearmouth 40), Dale Subs not used Dixon, Hutchinson Goals Maguire 34, Wade 78 

Witton (3-5-2) Porter (GK), Barnes, Harrison, John Shaw, Gardner, Joe Shaw, Corbett (Ainscough 85), Andrews, Dawson (Gibson 85), Henders (Koral 76), Titchiner Sub not used Robertson (GK) Goal John Shaw 71 Booked John Shaw (foul)

Referee Helen Conley

Attendance 447