Newcastle Benfield 1-1 Marske United: Lions rescue point in Northern League Division One clash

Newcastle Benfield and Marske United played out a one all draw at Sam Smith’s Park in a feisty game in the Northern League Division One on Tuesday. 

Thomas Marron gave the visitors the lead, but a late goal by Lewis Orrell, followed by a late flurry of Benfield chances, wasn’t enough to see the hosts claim all three points.

The Lions came into the game trying to make amends for a 1-0 loss at Horden CW on Saturday. 

But, after a quiet start to the game, Marske managed to take the lead from a corner.

Skipper, Marron, out-jumped everyone in the box and headed past Preston Leech to give Marske a 27th-minute lead. 

Benfield nearly replied instantly from a set piece themselves, as a free-kick delivered into the box wasn’t cleared properly and fell to Joe Ames, whose shot was well-saved by Mike Algie low to his left. 

After a feisty start to the second half, Marske were lucky not to see red after a high tackle by Danny Boyle in the middle of the park was punished with only a yellow. 

In the 75th minute, Benfield thought they had equalised, when a cross into the box was converted at the back post, only for the linesman to rule it out for offside. 

After carrying a lot of momentum in the second half, the Lions found an equaliser with ten minutes to go.

Orrell’s shot on the edge of the box took a heavy deflection, taking it past Algie in the Marske net. 

Benfield continued to push forward, and James Wilson had a great chance to make it 2-1 after getting in behind the Marske defence, only to see his effort turned onto the woodwork by the impressive Algie. 

Just before full time, Benfield had another huge chance.

Jack Watson found himself completely free in the Marske box, a couple of yards out from goal, but his header went over the bar, meaning Marske went home with a point.