Newcastle Benfield 0-1 Shildon: Lions’ five-game home unbeaten run ends against league leaders

Newcastle Benfield’s five-game unbeaten run at Sam Smith’s Park came to an end, losing 1-0 to Northern League Division One leaders Shildon.

Joe Posthill’s first-half goal was enough to see the Railwaymen keep their five-point lead at the top of the table.

Benfield ‘keeper Preston Leech was called into action early on, making some big saves to deny Andrei Vasile Ardelean and Posthill.

Benfield were competitive but struggled to create anything of substance – going closest in the 38th minute through James Wilson, whose shot sailed over the bar.

A minute later though, the deadlock was broken.

After Benfield gave the ball away, the ball was played in behind to the Shildon winger, who pulled it back to an unmarked Posthill arriving on the edge of the box, who fired it past Leech.

The visitors had the best chance of the second half through Billy Greulich Smith, who headed over the bar from a very good position in the box.

Benfield failed to create a clear-cut opportunity in the second half, with Shildon’s back-line being solid throughout and restricting the Benfield attack to very little.