Promotion hopefuls Hebburn Town completed a double over Brighouse Town last Saturday with a goal in each half to register eight goals over the two games.
Town gave the Newcastle-based side plenty to think about in the first half but the visitors still managed to score their first goal on 39 minutes, scored by Arron Thompson. Aiden Heyward fired the ball across the box where Thompson was on hand to fire the ball into the net.
Town previous to this could have gone ahead through Jack Normington after just 10 minutes when he was clear on goal but lobbed his shot wide of Kieran Hunter with everyone in the ground expecting the target to be hit. Not long afterwards and Jack Wilson was through and into the box but his shot was wayward also of the target.
Town then lost defender Matty Nebard (injured) and he was replaced by Darius Smith.
Hebburn did appear a relieved side when they broke the deadlock and Town under skipper Josh Grant did force the play until the break without managing to equalise.
When Town, in the second half, played more of the ball on the deck, they did have the beating for pace and some skill of the opposition but it was second-placed Hebburn who scored the second goal on 75 minutes when first Jamie Hassall made a good save from a Liam Noble corner but was then beaten by a shot from Robbie Spence.
Brighouse did not throw in the towel and kept on coming down the right flank through Jack Crook, on for Myron Gibbons, Smith, Normanton, Cameron Bedford and Kieron Ceesay. Hunter twice spilled the greasy ball as the sleet hammered down but unfortunately there was no Town forward near enough to poke either chance home.
Going into this Easter weekend’s two fixtures, Town are fourth from bottom and desperately need points from Dunston away on Saturday (3pm) and then against bottom club Winterton Rangers on Easter Monday (3pm) at the Heffernan Utilities Stadium.
The Dunston game is set for the 4G pitch at Consett, a ground where last term Town enjoyed the surface and won 4-1.
The Dunston pitch is ruled out until April by the NPL but they (Dunston) have been trying in the early part of this week to try and secure home advantage after having to play at Morpeth last Saturday and drag Carlton Town from the border of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire all the way up there. The third-placed club were also beaten 3-2!
Town hope to have vice-captain Curtis Peters back in action this weekend and also leading goalscorer Mo Qasim, whose leg injury kept him out of the action last Saturday.
