LIONS DOING IT THEIR ‘BRAY
A hat-trick from veteran striker Paul Brayson was enough for Newcastle Benfield to knock former winners North Shields out of the FA Vase.
The 40-yearold was on top form on Tyneside, scoring a firsthalf opener before sealing the win with two more in the second 45 minutes.
“It’s what he does, isn’t it ?” said Benfield manager Mark Convery.
“Give him a chance and he just finishes it. He’s a different class.
“I thought the next goal would win the game at 1-1 but, to be fair, we could have had a couple more.
“We didn’t win a lot of second balls, and that’s what I said at half-time. We sorted it out and turned the game on its head after that and I am delighted.”
It was the hosts who started the better; Luke Carr the perpetrator of the first chance – but his effort from long range flew wide.
Benfield had a goal disallowed soon after when Shields keeper Sean McCafferty was pushed as he claimed a cross.
But their pressure was finally rewarded when they took the lead on 24 minutes.
North Shields cleared a corner as far as Brayson, who fired home a stunner from distance.
The Robins quickly got back into the game when Craig McFarlane’s deflected free-kick found the back of the net.
Benfield restored their lead early in the second half when Joe Robson’s mistake allowed Brayson to easily slot home. And the game was put beyond reach soon after when Brayson was able to finish a fantastic low cross from James Novak.
“We were second best all day,” admitted Shields’ manager Brian Smith.
“We were falling over each other in the second half. We have no excuses.”