Football: West Auckland Town pegged back but unbeaten run continues

ON TARGET: Nathan Fisher scored his seventh of the season

Ebac Northern League
West Auckland Town 2 - 2 Newcastle Benfield

WEST twice led against their Tyneside rivals at the Wanted stadium only to be pegged back on both occasions.
A point apiece was probably a fair reflection of a game which was evenly contested by two well organised sides.
After high scoring wins against Guisborough and Penrith, it looked like another could be on the cards when Ben Wood, deputising for the honeymooning Amar Purewal, popped up on five minutes to finish well from close range and give the hosts an early lead.
West created more openings and hit the bar but a second goal proved elusive.
Benfield, who won their opener on Saturday, began to look dangerous on the break and it was from one such sortie upfield that an equaliser came on 32 minutes when Paul Brayson found himself unmarked six yards out with the simplest of tasks to side foot home.
Benfield almost took the lead on half time when Adam McHugh pulled off a superb fingertip save in the West net to deny a long range effort from John Campbell.
There was little between the sides after the break and it took the pace of Nathan Fisher to restore West's lead on the hour.
He beat keeper Andrew Grainger to a ball over the top and skilfully lifted it over the oncoming stopper.
But with just a one goal advantage, Benfield were always in the game and their equaliser came from a Brayson penalty with just five minutes to go.
Saturday sees West visit Stockton Town in a rearranged fixture, while next Tuesday, the team heads to Newton Aycliffe.
Stuart Laundy

For more on West Auckland Town's excellent start to the season, see this week's Teesdale Mercury