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Blyth Town edge out winners in a five goal thriller against Newcastle Benfield

Newcastle Benfield 2-3 Blyth Town

Newcastle Benfield were on the wrong side of a five-goal thriller as they were beaten by Blyth Town in the Ebac Northern League Division one last night.

The away side took the lead through Joseph Gibson inside the first 15 minutes. This was followed by a quick Benfield response with Kieran Galbraith heading home just two minutes later.

Dan Wilson put the visitors ahead for the second time in the match just before the 30-minute mark. The Lions replicated how quickly they reacted to going a goal down the first time to then notch a goal back a minute later with Noah Millington netting next.

With just over 20 minutes to go Liam Wotherspoon scored Blyth’s third and this time the hosts were unable to find a response.

Benfield were looking to turn their form around after losing the previous two matches, while The Braves needed to keep their momentum up to make sure they stayed in the promotion hunt.

The game started cagey as you would expect with three points vital for either side at this stage of the season. Blyth Town opened the scoring from a set piece that wasn’t dealt with properly by Benfield. It was whipped in from the right-hand side and flicked onto the back post with skipper Gibson getting on the end of it and firing into the bottom right corner to give the away side a perfect start.

The Lions didn’t rest on their laurels and went straight up the other end and won a free kick in a dangerous position. Christian Lynn was standing over it on the left-hand side and placed the delivery straight on Galbraith’s head who only needed to direct it at goal as it flew into the top right corner with the keeper rooted.

Despite growing into the game, Benfield then gifted The Braves their second. Thomas Shanley received the ball and went to go direct up the pitch but a mis-kick fell to Wilson who finished into an empty net for the visitors to retake the lead.

Andy Ferguson’s side did not let the mistake ruin their good work and instantly responded for the second time in the match. Lewis Orrell played a great ball into space for Millington to run onto who then dispatched the shot into the bottom left corner to level the game for the second time.

The away side started the second half the better of the two teams and were looking for their third. With 69 minutes played Blyth Town moved the ball around nicely as they found Gibson on the edge of the box with a shot turned pass saw Wotherspoon latch onto it and slot it past Shanley to seal all three points for the visitors.

With games coming thick and fast a positive reaction is now needed. Newcastle Benfield will look to put an end to their three game losing streak this Friday night away against West Allotment Celtic.