Patience won the day for Hexham

The early pressure came from Hexham but Tynemouth proved they would be no push over's as results had suggested from the early matches in the season.

Scott Coates was revelling in his central midfield position and staking a very early claim for the man of the match but also Luke Parkinson was very lively in his left wing role.

Most of the threat came from these two and they were both involved in Hexham's best effort in the first half. Luke cut in from the wing and drove the ball across the face of the box to where Scott Robson had a shot which was saved by Stuart Mckenzie but was only partially cleared.

From this melee the ball ran to just outside the area and Scott Coates leapt onto it and fired a tremendous shot which cannoned off the crossbar high into the autumn sky, testimony to the pace he struck the ball with.

This was the story of the first half with Hexham mainly on top but that breakthrough just did not come. Tynemouth defenders Mitchell and Cannell were defending stoutly and the midfield four for Tynemouth were working hard but in truth they never troubled the Hexham back line.

At the break the scores were level and the half time team talk was just keep it up and the goal must eventually come, but as the half wore on it looked less and less likely that that much needed goal would arrive.

Although Tynemouth did not threaten Sean Heads in the Hexham goal, his opposite number Mckenzie really only had corners and set pieces to deal with as no clear cut chances were created.

One clear shout for a hand ball in the area was turned down as a left wing cross came in with Neil Tiffin waiting at the far post but only a corner was awarded. The Hexham bench thought ref Mark Backhouse missed that one but over the ninety minutes the Cumbrian official had an excellent game.

Iain Strachan worked all afternoon and all got to reward his efforts was a punch in the face as he challenged the keeper for one of the many crosses that did not bear any fruit.

As the clock was ticking down to the last fifteen minutes of the game a change had to be made to see if the Tynemouth defence could be unlocked. Just back from injury Darren Dobson was brought on to try his luck and within a minute he was successful.

From a Scott Coates left wing corner he went to challenge for the ball and as the keeper came out to collect, luckily for Darren it hit him on the back of the leg and wrong footed the defenders on the line. This totally deflated the visitors and Hexham then just grew and grew in confidence, Darren would admit that his first goal had shades of good fortune about it but his second was down to good finishing.

The goal came about after a period where Hexham were in total control and after good work from man of the match Scott Coates Darren found himself in space on the edge of the box. With a couple of touches Darren controlled the ball and struck a well placed shot into the corner of the goal.

This goal gave the scoreline a realistic look to it but for a long time in this game Tynemouth looked as if they would hold onto a point . Another plus for Hexham today was the form of Steven Coates who is now starting to show the form he was in before a year out with a knee injury, as every game goes by he is getting stronger.

There is no game for Hexham this week but they will be back on the road on the 24th of this month when Cullercoats Custom Planet will be the hosts.