Bolehall Swifts 4 Barnt Green Spartak 1

MIDFIELDER Jae Martin saw red as nine men Spartak suffered their biggest loss of the season in the Midland Combination Premier Division on Saturday.

Martin's dismissal and an injury to Emad Bouanane meant that Spartak were severely under strength in the game's final minutes.

Spartak cannot blame their defeat on being reducted to nine as Swifts had already powered to a 3-1 ahead.

Defeat is a massive dent to the Alvechurch based side's title hopes in the Premier Division. Spartak slipped to fourth and 15 points behind leader Atherstone Town.

To make matters worse key midfielder Zahoor Suliman also had been taken off with an ankle injury.

Spartak had started the brighter side and defender Paul Smith opened the scoring on the 20 minute mark. However, Barnt Green were pulled level by Ian Purvey, before Ryan Allmark put Swifts 2-1 ahead by half time.

Suliman, Spartak's third substitute, was forced off just before Bolehall went 3-1 ahead.

However, Martin's 70th minute dismissal and Bouanane's injury made it impossible for Spartak to get back into the game and Bolehall grabbed a fourth goal.

Spartak will be aiming to bounce back on Saturday, March 4 when they take on mid-table Cadbury Athletic (2.45pm kick off).

l Barnt Green were the victims of Atherstone Town's prolific striker Roy Dunkley on Wednesday, February 22, when they were knocked out of the Endsleigh Challenge Cups quarter-final.

Spartak had no answer to Dunkley, who scored on the eighth, 88th and 94th minutes. Matt Brown and Chris Partridge also scored, while Jae Martin pulled a goal back for Barnt Green.