Hebburn Town 1-1 Dunston UTS – Match Highlights and Report
Hebburn Town almost certainly confirmed a play-off spot on Easter Monday as local opponents Dunston UTS took the share of the points in a 1-1 draw.
Liam Murray’s early second-half equaliser levelled things after Dale Pearson gave the 10-men visitors the lead in the 36th minute, following a Jon Shaw’s red card just four minutes earlier.
While there was inclement weather before the match which may have disrupted the flow of what was otherwise a low-key derby, the match didn’t seem too affected by the downpour.
Chances were quite few and far between but Hebburn came close in the 31st minute when Robbie Spence’s long-range effort was parried into the path of Amar Purewal who couldn’t poke it into the net.
One minute later, disaster struck for the visitors when Shaw was red-carded for a last-man challenge on Purewal.
Dunston made the most of their disadvantage, however, and while the following free-kick was comfortably blocked it didn’t take long for them to take the lead.
Carl Finnigan’s ball found Pearson who was given a load of space to slot the ball past Hebburn’s Shaun Newbrook without much issue.
Half-time came and went, before Hebburn found their equaliser.
Murray was afforded the perfect opportunity when he met the ball on the edge of the box and without hesitation, slotted it past Dan Staples.
It would be fair to say not a lot happened after that point, and while Hebburn can be pleased that a play-off spot in the Northern Premier League East Division is all-but-confirmed – 9 points difference with 3 games remaining for Dunston who sit 6th – a record attendance of 538 had little to shout about afterwards.
Up next for Hebburn is Stocksbridge Park Steels away on Saturday 15 April, who find themselves three points behind the Hornets in 4th place with 60 points to their name.
Hebburn Town: Newbrook, Devitt, Groves, Reid, Donaghy, Phillips, Hackett, Spence, Purewal, Martin, Murray.
Subs: Harrison, Coulson, McCamley, Henderson, Moore.
Dunston UTS: Staples, Baxter, Scott, Turnbull, Shaw, Galbraith, Coulson, Pearson, Finnigan (Thear), Jenkins (Elliott), Pearson (Djalo).
Subs: Camarda, Fowler.
Attendance: 538
