Castle Vale 3

Barnt Green Spartak 2

SPARTAK were brought down to Earth with a bump by Castle Vale in the Midland Combination Premier Division.

Twice manager GJ Singh's side allowed their opponents back into the game.

Karrol Hamber had put his side ahead with a clinical finish, only for Vale to respond.

Goalkeeper Kenny Sanders kept his side's slender lead intact when he saved Aaron Smith's penalty.

However, Smith had his vengence when he equalised early in the second half as the game started to take shape.

Once again Spartak hit back, when Alex Lewis finished clinically.

However, Green could not keep the advantage and Christian Crisp equalised again for Castle Vale.

The match swung towards Spartak's opponents after Lewis was sent off for swearing at the referee.

Barnt Green were unable to resist the mounting pressure and Chris Kavanagh scored the winner.

Manager Singh said: "Alex admits it was a stupid sending off.

"It was a game we could have won, but in the end we didn't take our chances of Vale took theirs."

Singh felt his side had been struck by the team of the month curse.

Spartak won the award for remaining unbeaten throughout October.

He said: "I had a feeling we might lose, these awards are always more of a curse than a blessing.

"The next time they offer me one I might decline."

Spartak play Cadbury Athletics Reserves on Saturday in the the Smedley Crooke Cup.