UNDERDOGS Hexham took on fourth place Blyth Spartans Reserves in Northern Alliance Division One on Saturday. 

And despite impressing in the 1-1 draw, which saw them tighten their grip of seventh position in the league, the hosts could have secured all three points. 

A sizeable crowd at Wentworth Leisure Centre saw Hexham get off to a good start against the division’s leading scorers. 

In the early stages, Kurtis Harvey worked his way into a shooting position down the right, but fired wide of the target.

“It was the first of several chances we had in the first quarter of an hour,” said Hexham manager Martin Lowes. 

“We didn’t quite manage to convert them, and our goalkeeper Nathan Byerley made a cracking save from their first real chance, to keep the scores level.”

Hexham found a breakthrough on 25 minutes, when Harvey pounced on some sloppy play from the visitors. 

Lowes added: “Blyth didn’t clear their lines on the edge of their box and Kurtis hit a shot to the right of the keeper with his left foot.”

Shortly afterwards, Will Forsyth ran onto a short back pass to find himself through on goal, but his effort came back off the post. 

Despite Hexham’s attacking play, Blyth remained a threat, and made changes in the second half. 

“They changed their formation to a 4-4-3, and brought on three subs to really have a go at it,” said Lowes.  

“With about 12 minutes to go they equalised. This time it was ourselves who didn’t quite clear our lines and they scored with a low shot from about 18 yards.

“Nathan was disappointed that he didn’t save it, but he saw it late and there was nothing he could do.”

Hexham almost won the game in the closing stages. A free kick was parried back into the penalty area by the Blyth keeper, and livewire forward Dylan Mabunu managed to get his head to the ball, but his effort was tipped over the crossbar. 

Lowes added: “It was a great game of football. I was pleased to see a good crowd there and it was an entertaining match. 

“Blyth Spartans are a club with a lot of history and we were up against a good side. I asked our players for 100 per cent and they gave me 110 per cent. 

“We could have won, but I was over the moon with the performance from our lads.” 

Hexham host Bedlington in the league on Saturday.