A PROFESSIONAL job by a young Hexham side saw them make it six points from a possible six.

They were rarely troubled by a travelling Newcastle Chemfica side in midweek, although they did encounter a late scare when goalkeeper Tom Craney had a rush of the blood to the head and chested a routine ball, only to watch in relief as it came bouncing back off the post.

The hosts controlled the game and were always on top, a two goal lead at the break allowing them to take their foot off the gas in the second half to concentrate on adding to the points picked up on the opening day in a 4-2 victory over Gosforth Bohemians. An exciting Hexham side looked like they were going to score every time they poured forward in the first half, laying siege to Newcastle’s defence with slick, attacking football.

But it was their visitors who had the first chance of note when Andrew Hall created some space to turn on the edge of the area and force Craney into a low save on 10 minutes.

Hexham should have had a penalty moments later when Robbie Pattison was brought down by Tony Mpwilu in the area, but referee Colin Smith gave a free kick on the corner of the 18-yard box instead.

But the hosts’ frustrations were soon forgotten when they took the lead following a slick move up the right hand side of the pitch on 14 minutes.

A brilliantly weighted ball with the outside of his boot from Brad Ives sent striker Josh Bynoe on his way, and he showed great footwork to beat his man and fire a shot into the far corner of the net.

It was 2-0 on 20 minutes, Pattison the architect as he travelled from the other side of the pitch to collect a throw from Hamish Forsyth. He shrugged off a weak tackle from Alex McKitterick and his cross was on a plate for the unmarked Kurtis Harvey to divert home from yards out. Hexham were looking electric but nearly shot themselves in the foot within 60 seconds, a slack pass from Brad Ives intercepted by Garrick Murphy-Collins who had a free run on goal.

While Craney did well to make it difficult for the winger, Murphy-Collins made a mess of his effort and sent the ball horribly wide.

The impetus was temporarily with Newcastle and Fergus Lynch had two quick chances, but was unable to find the target with either effort.

At the other end, Hexham were capitalising on some sloppy passing at the back by Chemfica as they looked to increase their advantage.

Marauding defender Tom Hacking linked up well with Bynoe and got a toe to the return pass to poke the ball past goalkeeper Jon Elliott, with the covering Jordan Robson clearing the ball off the line.

After the half hour mark, Harvey dragged a shot wide after Murphy-Collins surrendered possession cheaply.

After an entertaining first half, the second was much more subdued as Hexham sat on their two goal advantage and wore Newcastle down.

They had their chances though, with Bynoe inches away from an eye-catching second when Elliott raced out for a ball only for defender Robson to clear ahead of him. The Hexham striker tried his luck with a lob from distance, and it just sailed wide of the post.

On the hour, a quick break from Hexham saw Tony Lancaster play Bynoe in down the channel and he cut inside but hit a well-struck shot at the chest of Elliott.

Lancaster was the next striker to be played in as he raced on to a Harvey flick, rounding Elliott and then seeing his effort go behind after a great tackle from Joe Robertson. Most in the ground thought the blow from the referee’s whistle was to signal a free kick after Lancaster was kicked by the onrushing Elliott, but a dubious offside flag had Hexham incensed.

Newcastle were struggling to create any openings, with Hexham looking likely the increase their lead as Harvey pounced on another excellent cross from Pattison. This time, Elliott pulled off a superb reaction save to direct it over the bar.

With just three minutes to go, Brad Lowes then ignored calls to go to the corner and his trickery saw him squeeze out of a tight hole and bear down on goal, his rifled shot from a tight angle flashing across goal.

The victory took them to six points for the season after making hard work of their 4-2 win over Gosforth.

Bohemians went down to 10 men after 20 minutes, and goals from Lancaster, Callum Duncan and Harvey put them 3-1 up.

But there was a nervy finish as Gosforth reduced arrears with 10 minutes to go, until Harvey made sure of the win with two minutes to go.