Controversy late on for Hexham

It did not take him long to make his mark in the game. After a spell of concerted pressure a pin point cross from Steven Coates found Iain in space and he headed it across the keeper into the corner of the goal.

For all their early dominance Hexham did not convert this pressure into goals. BT keeper Kevin Moore came to the rescue and efforts from Luke Parkinson and Scott Coates both went close.

The rain had been falling steadily and the pitch was very slippery with both sides unable to keep their footing. This did make for a few wild challenges from both sides but there was nothing malicious and the ref did well to keep his yellow card in his pocket.

With skipper Gavin Cox injured Craig Nesbitt took the main role at the back and set about the task with vigour keeping his two teenage colleagues Tom Hacking and Michael Robson on their toes. But as ever Hexham took their foot off the peddle and let BT back into the game as Richard Beverley broke through and scored, which had been coming, but if Hexham had converted their chances they would have been out of sight by the break.

This was the theme of the half time team talk, that the side must kill teams off when they have the chance as at this level anyone can make a mistake and you are punished severely.

With these words ringing in the teams ears as the second half started it made no difference as BT looked a completely different outfit from the start of the match. Hexham continued to give the ball away needlessly and put themselves under pressure.

It did not take long for BT to punish Hexham again when the defence was split and Richard Beverly ran through to lift the ball over Hexham keeper Robinson for his second of the match. One bonus was there was still plenty of time left on the clock to rectify this scoreline but whether there was enough daylight left was a different story.

Hexham made a couple of changes bringing on Duncan Scott and new signing Neil Macdonald. Neil had not been long on the pitch when he almost created a goal from nothing. He received the ball with his back to goal turned his marker and shot from just outside the area, his shot beat the keeper hands down but unfortunately it hit the crossbar and just dropped behind Scott Robson who was following up.

This was better from Hexham and was not long before parity was restored, the pressure was starting to tell and from a through ball Luke Parkinson beat the offside trap to bring the sides level.

As the defenders were appealing a glance at the referee confirmed no offence so Luke carried on to score. As the gloom gathered Neil Macdonald had another opportunity to score when he chased after a through ball but he was unable to control it and the keeper came out to smother the ball.

The major talking point came very late on in the match; Luke Parkinson picked the ball up in his own half and started a run that took him almost into the opposing penalty area. A defender came across to challenge him but Luke beat his man and made his way into the box, the defender challenges him from behind and made contact bringing Luke to the ground.

With the Hexham bench appealing for a penalty Luke did not wait for any whistle he got up and fired the ball into the goal. As the ref gave the goal Hexham were celebrating and making their way back to the half way line for the restart.

Only then did a flag appear on the far side of the pitch, after a consultation between the two officials the goal was chalked off, despite vigorous protest no explanation was given why the goal was disallowed.

More confusion reigned when the game was restarted with a free kick to BT in the penalty area. The game from there just disintegrated and when the final whistle went it brought the curtain down on a disappointing night.

Man of the match was Craig Nesbitt who never looked out of place while filling in an unfamiliar role.