Newcastle Benfield 1-1 Birtley Town
Newcastle Benfield extended their unbeaten run to four games as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Birtley Town at the MKM stadium.
Nick Marley put the visitors a goal to the good in the 22nd minute with a glancing header before Benfield responded in the 31st minute through Jack Watson.
The Lions were coming off a win against Carlisle City on Tuesday night where they came from a goal down to win 3-1. Birtley also played on Tuesday night when they narrowly lost to North Shields 2-1 at home and were winless in their previous four games.
Birtley dominated the opening stages and this paid off in the 22nd minute when Lewis Exley’s cross from the left found Marley who nodded the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Thomas Shanley in the Benfield goal with no chance.
The Lions answered back nine minutes later through Jack Watson. Ryan Smith picked up the ball in midfield a played a pass which took out the whole Birtley defence to send Watson one on one with the goalkeeper and he stayed calm and slotted it home to tie the game.
After the break, both sides had decent enough chances to try and win the game, but neither side could find the breakthrough and the game eventually petered out as the points were shared.
The point saw Benfield move up to 12th in the league and extend their unbeaten run to four games.
Andy Ferguson’s side face Penrith at the MKM stadium next weekend in a game that could be a real six pointer.
