HEXHAM battled back from a goal down to eliminate Northern Alliance Division One rivals Seaton Burn from the league cup.

Two second half strikes from Kurtis Harvey put them over the line after Sam Mannion’s equaliser in the opening half, the goals seeing the home side’s dominance in front of goal finally pay off.

Hexham survived an early scare when Hamish Forsyth somehow got back to clear a goalbound shot off the goal-line on four minutes, with the hosts then in disbelief when the Seaton keeper kept out Harvey’s close range header.

It was Seaton Burn who took the lead just before the 20-minute mark but the goal only spurred Hexham into action.

Robbie Pattison saw a shot tipped on to the post and Lewis Loughhead fired wide, while Peter McRoberts failed to test the visiting goalkeeper with his shot on target.

The teams did go into the break on level terms though when Mannion marked his return from injury with a smart finish after Harvey retrieved the ball from an opponent.

A sluggish start to the second half saw chances few and far between, with an attempted lob from Mannion sailing wide the first chance of note.

It wasn’t until the 67th minute that the home side grabbed the upper hand when Mannion and Harvey reversed roles, the former turning provider as his low cross was sent home.

Harvey made sure of Hexham’s progress to the third round with 15 minutes remaining, again converting from close range as he controlled Pattison’s cross and turned his defender.

Hexham are again in cup action at the weekend as they travel to Rothbury in the Combination Cup.