Graham's goal keeps good run of form going for Hexham

NEWCASTLE BENFIELD ATHLETIC 0

AFTER beating Rothbury, Newcastle University A and North Sunderland in their first three games of the Reeves Independent Northern Alliance Division One season, a resurgent Hexham kept the bandwagon rolling with a deserved 1-0 home win against Newcastle Benfield Athletic on the 4G pitch at the town's Queen Elizabeth High School last Saturday.

Inside the opening 30 seconds, Hexham full-back Fionn Struthers' long-range cross from the left flank dipped just over the bar, and, staying on the front foot, the hosts' next attack brought the first of two corners in quick succession before winger Charlie Clark had a shot blocked on the edge of the box.

At the other end, centre forward Junior Baptista and winger Eesa Rouf were starting to cause problems for the Hexham defence with their pace and direct running. 

On 11 minutes, Baptista should have done better when hesitancy at the back presented him with a gilt-edged one-on-one opportunity in the box, but experienced keeper Shaun Heppell rescued the hosts by saving the striker's goal bound shot with an outstretched arm.

Soon after, the same duo linked up well again after being gifted the ball on halfway by a misplaced pass and it needed a well-timed last-ditch tackle to save the day just as Baptista was about to pull the trigger.

The visitors continued to press, but failed to take advantage of two set-pieces in as many minutes, shortly before Owen Faetz's 30-yard first-time shot fizzed past Heppell's left-hand post.

Already missing 13 players due to injuries and holidays, and unable to name a full quota of five substitutes, Athletic were dealt a double blow either side of the 20-minute mark when winger Ben White and central defender James Blacklock had to be replaced by Max Winthorpe and Jack Jones.

Both teams were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply as clear-cut chances dried up for the next 20 minutes, with the visitors' young keeper Mason Linstead having nothing more to do than gather routine crosses inside his six-yard box as shots and headers failed to hit the target.

However, the hosts did get away with another defensive mix-up on the half-hour mark when an attempted back pass resulted in a goalmouth scramble and Heppell's attempted clearance fortuitously bounced off Baptista for a goal-kick.

Hexham ended the half in the ascendancy with George Brady's rising drive tipped over the bar by Linstead, a close range connection from Alex Waters' resulting corner bounced up and over the bar, and Miller Thornton's cross was diverted on goal before being hooked clear off the line.

The hosts started the second half on the front foot, forcing two corners in quick succession with the first one headed wide by Ollie Graham at the back post.

The introduction of Leo De Santis, one of a quartet of 16-year-olds in the Hexham squad, and Dale Graham from the bench before the hour mark was a positive move by manager Stephen Donnison and it wasn't long before his side were in total control.

The influential George Brady broke into the box on the left before putting one on a plate for De Santis but his low drive was blocked by Linstead, and Brady then fired over after his initial free-kick hit the wall.

The hosts deservedly went in front on 67 minutes through Dale Graham.

A corner on the right delivered beyond the back post was headed back into the centre of the box from the byline to Graham who fired an unstoppable half-volley into the roof of the net giving Linstead no chance (1-0).

A free-flowing move involving Waters, Brady, Jake Robson and substitute Hayden Dickinson almost culminated in the lead being doubled just four minutes later, but Dickinson's strike hit the angle of post and bar.

Pressing again down the left, a De Santis cross bounced behind off the top of the bar, moments later Dickinson got to the byline on the other flank and fired one across the face of goal that didn't get the touch it deserved, and a cross fed back to Waters was blazed over.

On a rare foray upfield, Baptista was about to pull the trigger when denied by Dale Graham's great tackle and Rouf then had a shot blocked by Struthers.

Normal service soon resumed at the other end with Linstead sprinting off his line to boot clear a through ball just before De Santis got there, Brady's cross was headed back to Robson who had a close-range effort deflected over the bar, and Struthers' low cross was cleared off the line at the back post.

It continued to be one-way traffic in the closing stages. A six-man move ended with a Craig Thomas cross being deflected for a corner on the right, from which Struthers' delivery bounced off the top of the bar at the back post.

Brady then had a 20-yard piledriver pushed over the bar before setting up a final chance in stoppage time for De Santis who saw his 25-yard effort palmed away by Linstead diving to his left at full stretch.

Every member of the Hexham squad put in a shift and displayed outstanding fitness levels as a dominant second half performance ensured Athletic headed back down the A69 empty-handed.

This season's switch to the artificial 4G surface from the grass pitch at Wentworth Leisure Centre has already paid dividends with Donnison's unbeaten side sharing top spot with Bedlington who they play on Saturday.