Stalemate with league leaders

Hexham kicked off with the low autumn sun at their backs and immediately put Amble on the back foot, strikers Phillips and McNamee were constantly putting the Amble defence under pressure with wide men Dobson and Parkinson providing the ammunition.

Amble are made of sterner stuff this season and the rear guard of Wayne Simpson and David Shephard were secure and looked comfortable.

Any high ball into the box was collected by keeper Stu Shanks so Hexham would have to change their plan if the breakthrough was to come. The first half was mainly a battle of the two midfields with very few chances for either side.

For Amble their best effort was a very dangerous cross just in front of the Hexham keeper Sean Heads who had to stay on his line but captain Gavin Cox was on hand to see the ball out to safety but any connection would have spelt trouble for Hexham.

For Hexham Scott Coates had the best two efforts from free kicks before Luke Parkinson had the ball in the net after he ran on to a through ball and gave the keeper no chance only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman's flag. It could only have been someone else infringing as Luke ran past the central defender beating him for speed on the turn.

The break came with the scores level with everything to play for in the second half, either team did not make any changes as both sides were happy with the first forty five minutes.

The second half was much like the first with a lot of midfield battles and not many chances going either way. Both defences were on top with Cox and Hacking giving Sean Heads a quiet afternoon between the sticks and left full back Steven Coates getting forward as much as possible.

The other full back Scott Robson possibly had the best two efforts one from a corner when his header only just went wide and a shot late on when he was played in by Darren Dobson. Apart from those chances Hexham were restricted to a looping header from Neil Tiffin and another good effort from Luke Parkinson.

For the visitors Shaun Jobson impressed and along with Tom Phillips won the respective man of the match awards. Hexham tried their best to open up Amble late on with Duncan Scott and Neil Macdonald making an appearance but neither had much time to change the outcome.

The match official was Wayne Cartmel who had the added pressure of being assessed for possible promotion in the refereeing world and over the ninety minutes he impressed with his decision making and control of the game.

During the match he issued five yellow cards, one to Hexham and four to Amble but these were all in the closing moments as frustrations and nerves were running high as no one wanted to lose the match so close to full time.

But to be fair to him no one could complain at his handling of the game and both sides had to be happy with a share of the points, though Hexham had the better of the game and should have maybe taken more than one point.

Thanks to Topsigns for sponsoring the match which saw Hexham retain their unbeaten home record and the point that Amble took home ensured that they stopped at the top of the table as second placed Wideopen lost at home to Wallsend Town.

Next week its NFA Minor Cup action for Hexham as they travel to Walker Central Reserves for a second round tie.