DEFEAT at Croft Park was hardly the start to the competitive season that new Alfreton Town boss Nicky Law would have wanted, but the Reds could have no complaints.
Both goals came in a first half in which they lacked a cutting edge going forward, and although they were more in the picture after the break they still could not find the incision to make any inroads into the interval deficit.
Blyth won it with a fourth minute penalty and a goal two minutes into first half stoppage time.
Following a minute’s applause in memory of former Blyth chairman Tom Hedley, Spartans had threatened initially with only just over a minute gone, when Terry Henshaw had to concede a corner as Robert Dale got to the by-line.
But with the clock ticking towards the fourth minute, Reds keeper James Lindley caught the ankles of Chris McCabe as the Blyth forward was put through by Richard Forster.
Dale took the spot kick, but having seen one saved by Dale Roberts last season, this time he made no mistake.
Blyth were showing all the attacking ideas and twice inside a minute Dale was stopped, first by Nathan Winder and then by Kyle McFadzean who needed to drop back quickly to get in the challenge.
The best Alfreton had to offer during this time was a stifled Andy White shot after Matt Glass had dispossessed Forster, and then a weak chip by Matt Outram which was easily held following more good work by Glass.
Kris Bowler was way too high with a 25-yard free kick, but in stoppage time at the end of the half the Reds might have snatched an equaliser.
Mark Barnard floated a useful cross into the box, and home skipper Gareth Williams managed only a partial clearance. The ball was worked back to White, but his header was weak.
And the miss was punished almost immediately at the other end. Michael Maidens blazed a path around the back of the defence to latch onto McCabe’s flick through and steer the ball home from 15 yards.
The second half was slow to get going, although when White cut in from the left his shot was comfortably held by keeper Adam Bartlett.
Blyth suffered a setback on the hour when McCabe was stretchered off after a three-minute delay, following a foul by half time substitute Mark Nangle, who got away with a lecture from referee Mr Harrington.
Anton Brown did have the ball in the Blyth net in the 65th minute, but it was ruled out for a foul against him.
However, the Reds were making more of a contest of it this half, and Laurie Wilson went close at the second attempt when his initial effort was blocked – unfortunately neither McFadzean nor Nangle could apply the finishing touch.
A minute later Maidens hammered the ball against Lindley’s bar, but as Andy Thompson buried the rebound he became actively offside and it was ruled out.
Alfreton had strong penalty appeals turned down in the 82nd minute when McFadzean was sent sprawling as he looked to get on the end of Wilson’s free kick, and then White put Daniel Douglas-Pringle through but his shot was well held.
Christian Graham fired a good chance straight at Lindley just before the end of the 90 minutes, but Alfreton might have got something back in stoppage time.
Wilson was too high with a 25-yard volley, and Pringle fired just over when put through by Nangle, after Brown had won a 50-50 challenge.
BLYTH: Bartlett, Williams, Boyle (Snowdon 85), Coulthard, Forster, Leeson, Thompson, McCabe (Christiansen 63), Dale (Graham 88), Maidens, Hodgson. Sub not used: Fenton.
ALFRETON: Lindley, Henshaw, Barnard, McFadzean, Winder, L. Wilson, Outram (Douglas-Pringle 66), Walton, Glass (Nangle ht), White, Bowler (Brown 56). Subs not used: Ellis, Cockerill.
REFEREE: T Harrington of Hartlepool.
ATTENDANCE: 597.
SCORERS: Blyth – Dale 4 (pen); Maidens 45+2.
CAUTIONS: Blyth – Christiansen 81 (foul on Brown). Alfreton – Walton 9 (dangerous play); White 29 (foul on Leeson); Barnard 33 (dissent); McFadzean 38 (foul on Dale); Wilson 77 (persistent misconduct).
REDS MAN OF THE MATCH: Nathan Winder.