The Roof is on fire as survival bid is boosted

IF Jarrow Roofing are to play Division One football they’ll need to show plenty of quality, possess an abundance of spirit and have a little bit of luck too.

All three of those qualities were on display as Dennis Knight’s brace and a strike from John Campbell helped them to a vital win at in-form Newcastle Benfield. First came the luck. There were just four minutes on the clock when the lively Knight intercepted a pass from Benfield keeper Andrew Grainger and tapped the ball into the empty net.

The hosts responded well and there was no surprise that Paul Brayson was soon at the heart of the action.

The veteran striker raced on to a long pass over the top of the Roofing defence but could only chip the ball into the hands of visitors keeper Dan Regan.

Regan then smothered a Rhys Evans shot at his near-post and then denied Brayson by keeping out the striker’s header after he was found by a cross from Jake Orrell.

Everything was pointing towards a Benfield equaliser but it was the visitors that grabbed the second goal of the game with a real display of quality from Sean Vipond.

The Roofing skipper collected a loose ball just inside his own half and arced a fine pass in behind the Benfield defence to release Campbell in on goal.

The former Benfield striker took a touch to steady himself before rolling the ball beyond the advancing