SLAUGHTERED, in some sense. That is not to say that Blyth were by any stretch, well, stretched.

An even first half gave way to a second in which the Spartans bettered Altrincham.

They ought also to have put victory to bed, when Shaun Utterson instead spurned a gilt-edged chance to double the hosts’ lead – courtesy of Glen Taylor – in added time.

But, of course, that miss came back to haunt Blyth deeper still into stoppage time, when Richie Slaughter needlessly conceded a penalty, duly dispatched by Damian Reeves.

“I can’t believe what I’ve just witnessed,” howled one visiting official. He clearly hasn’t kept abreast of Blyth this season.

Late goals and individual errors have cost them dear, and the threat of relegation grows by the week.

They played Survivor before kick-off, but salvation will take some doing now.

That said, at least they look far from giving up.

Inside three minutes, Reeves – who has more goals alone this season than Blyth – saw a 10-yard, goalbound shot blocked by Wayne Buchanan.

At the other end, Lee Mason burst down the right but had his angled effort deflected off target.

On 12 minutes, Altrincham’s Chris Lynch thumped a firm drive at Robert Birdsall from long range, and moments later Wayne Phillips cut in from the right only to fire wide.

Engaging stuff, but a more sombre spell followed before, just after the half hour, Utterson followed Phillips’ earlier path but found visiting goalkeeper Adam Reid his equal, and on the stroke of half time his opposite number did well to parry an angled shot from Michael Twiss.