Newcastle Benfield return to winning ways with an assertive display over Northallerton Town
Northallerton Town 2-4 Newcastle Benfield
The Lions responded to last weekend’s loss in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside the Ally to bring the three points back to Newcastle.
Newcastle Benfield got off to a rampant start with James Wilson putting the Lions ahead inside ten minutes. This was followed up by Glen Hargrave finish to double Benfield’s advantage 13 minutes in.
Northallerton halved the deficit through Joshua Allen in the 29th minute, Lewis Orrell then responded with a great effort 34 minutes in before Nathan Stephenson grabbed Northallerton’s second on the stroke of half time. The game was put to bed when Ryan Smith bagged Benfield’s fourth in the 91st minute.
The Lions came into Saturday’s windy affair on the back of their first defeat since October, losing 2-0 to Boro Rangers at the MKM Stadium. In the Ally’s last run out they succumbed to a 6-0 battering at the hands of in-form Shildon.
Benfield got off to a flier, Wilson latched onto a goalkeeping error to find himself an empty net, his poachers instincts found Benfield a goal to the good inside ten minutes. Hargrave, who can’t seem to stop scoring, was on the end of a great squared delivery from Kyle Fryatt to double the visitor’s lead.
The hosts demonstrated resilience throughout the first 45, with Allen of Northallerton being the first to react to a corner, getting a goal back for the Ally.
Benfield got their third which was scored and created by Orrell. A mazy run from Benfield’s technician unlocked Northallerton’s midfield and a wonderful one-two combination with James Wilson broke the defence down allowing Orrell to finish expertly.
Northallerton responded with perhaps a goal of the season contender, a long-range thunderbolt from Stephenson nestled into the top right corner of Benfield’s goal.
The game was then sealed through Smith just before the full-time whistle, good feet followed by an assertive strike gave Benfield their fourth and all three points.
Next up for Benfield is a Boxing Day local derby against high-fliers Newcastle Blue Star.
