Last updated 13:35, Thursday, 17 July 2008

Wark took on mighty Bedlington Terriers on Friday night – and acquitted themselves exceptionally well.

Wark 3, Bedlington Terriers 3.

Both teams were using the match as a warm-up for the new season.

Wark are newly promoted to the Wade’s Northern Alliance Premier Division, while the Terriers, who in their illustrious history have been FA Vase finalists and into the third round of the FA Cup, saw Wark as a good challenge in their own pre-season build up to the Arngrove Northern League first division.

This was Wark’s first friendly of the season and as friendlies go, they don’t come much tougher than this one.

The game kicked off with both teams showing some great attacking football.

Wark made some good openings early on, with Lee Telfer and Philly Robinson connecting well to get in behind the Bedlington defence.

It was the Terriers who looked the sharper though from the off and it was not long before some good work saw Andy Watson cross and ex-Newcastle United youth player Gareth McAlindon send the ball into the Wark net with a bullet header about 20 minutes in.

Both teams continued to entertain but it was Bedlington who went 2-0 up just before the first half with the first of a brace from Tony Shandran.

The second half kicked off with both sides making a number of changes.

It was Wark’s Matthew Macloughlin who came on and made the big impression, terrorising the Bedlington defence with his surging runs down the left hand side.

It wasn’t long before Wark started to create openings.

Looking sharper in all departments, Wark won a corner about 10 minutes into the second half.

The ball fell to the deadly Marc Nixon at the far post, who tapped the ball home.

It wasn’t long before Wark drew level through Phillip Thompson.

Still looking the sharper and continuing to stretch Bedlington, the ball fell to Thompson on the edge of the area, and he blasted the ball home for the equaliser.

Still eager to make their point, both teams continued to press and it wasn’t long before Tony Shandran gave Bedlington back the advantage.

Wark, however, were not finished, with Macloughlin continuing to stretch the Terriers defence.

Finally though it was a mazy run from Marc Nixon that saw him run through the Bedlington defence and hit home from 12 yards out to bring the game level.

Wark also had a penalty appeal turned down in the final moments of the game, with Marc Nixon going down under a challenge in the box.

The game finished 3-3 with both teams having battled well.

Wark’s preparations continued on Tuesday night, when they drew 1-1 with Morpeth last night in physical contest.

Wark took the lead with a tremendous drive into the top corner from Phil Thompson, but Morpeth deserved their equaliser near the end of an evenly contested battle.