Blyth Spartans suffer heavy defeat against league leaders Bradford (Park Avenue)

Blyth Spartans were put to the sword by NPL East leaders Bradford (Park Avenue) on Saturday, with the West Yorkshire outfit extending their unbeaten run to 17 games courtesy of a 4-0 win.

A quick start by Avenue meant they were two goals up at half time thanks to strikes from Luke Parkin and Scott Duxbury. Marcus Carver then killed off any chance of a Spartans comeback in the second period, before Jake Thompson smashed home a Goal of the Season contender to seal the victory for his side.

Four hundred and seventy-eight fans packed into the Horsfall Community Stadium to watch two of the form teams in the division, but it was the hosts who claimed an early opener. A free-kick was fired into the area, and after being flicked into the path of Parkin, was subsequently drilled into the bottom corner inside six minutes.

Bradford’s lead was doubled in the 27th minute when another free kick was whipped into the box, with Duxbury forcing a scramble and the ball eventually ending up over the line.

Avenue’s pressure persisted in the second half, with Spartans goalkeeper Callum Dobson being called into action on multiple occasions, as well as Rhys Evans, who was forced to make a last ditch goal-line clearance.

But Carver made it three just before the hour mark as another ball over the top of the Spartans defence allowed the forward to fire and effort at Dobson, who was alert to the first effort but couldn’t keep out the rebound.

Spartans would hit the woodwork late on when a Jordan Summerly cross deflected off a Bradford defender before looping onto the top of the crossbar.

Thompson rounded off a dominant performance for the home side, however, picking up the ball from a throw-in and driving inside at pace before unleashing a rocket into the top corner to make it 4-0.

That strike would compound a difficult afternoon for Spartans who, despite their recent league form, didn’t do enough to trouble the league leaders. Marc Nash’s side will have an opportunity to bounce back when they host bottom of the league Stocksbridge Park Steels at Croft Park on Saturday afternoon.