Entertaining game blighted by horrific injury

Once the game got under way it was as expected a very keenly close fought game. Hexham settled into the game first despite losing wing back Joe Stewart early on when he was involved in a collision with Forrest Hall keeper Matt Plows with only minutes on the clock. This meant Orin Parkinson got an early call into the action in a straight replacement for Joe.

He was soon in the game making an excellent run down the wing to cross hard and low directly across the face of the goal. Unfortunately for Hexham nobody could get that vital touch to convert. Scott Robson was unlucky not to score when he burst into the area and volleyed towards the goal but his effort was straight at Plows and he turned the shot over his crossbar.

Forest Hall did get the ball on the ground and try to play through the midfield but Hexham were strong in the middle and if anything did get through Graham Turner was in inspired form. It was a game where both defences were on top and very few opportunities were created. The wind did start to pick up as the half wore on but as ever at the Wentworth it did not benefit either side as the wind tends to swirl across the pitch not from end to end.

At the break the score was still level but in the second half thing changed very early. Scott Coates revelling in his new centre midfield berth found some space and his through ball to Iain Strachan gave the striker a chance to open the scoring.

Iain took the ball in his stride and with a gap at the keepers right hand side he drove it past him and into the goal. On the balance of play this was probably deserved.

The second half was mainly devoid of any goalmouth action as both defences remained dominant. The goal that Hexham strived for to make these three vital points secure never materialised despite their best efforts.

Forest Hall were a big imposing side and were never out of the game as they continued with their neat passing in the middle of the park. The game was held up after Forest Hall striker Michael Reay sustained what looked a nasty injury when tackling for a ball in the middle of the park. Michael was taken to hospital and it was later discovered that he had a triple fracture of his ankle.

The club hopes Michael make a speedy recovery from a horrific injury, these details were not known at the time and after quite a delay the match was restarted. Sean Heads in goal for Hexham had a relatively quiet afternoon but when called upon produced an excellent save from a well directed header but he managed to push away for a corner.

After several stoppages for injuries the game was well into stoppage time and the visitors were making a final push to get something from the game, the rub of the green was defiantly against Hexham as several fifty fifty decisions went against them.

But with less than a minute left on the clock a penalty was awarded after a scramble in the Hexham area, the sound of boot on shin pad was heard and the decision was given. Kevin Baldwin bravely stood up and dispatched the penalty giving Heads no chance.

There was only time to restart the match before the final whistle was blown, a crushing disappointment for Hexham. The mood in the dressing room was a sombre one; more like a defeated team than a team who had taken on a very good Alliance side and were only seconds away from victory.

Four draws from the first seven games of the season with two victories and a very close defeat at league leaders Wideopen is the result of Hexham's early season form but if they can start killing off teams when in front and with a little more luck it will not be a bad season for them.

Graham Turner continues his excellent early season form by winning the man of the match and he will look forward to another crack at Forest Hall next Saturday when they return to Hexham for a League Cup first round tie KO 2pm.