HORNETS’ LATE SHOW STINGS THE SYNNERS

HEBBURN 3 BILLINGHAM S 1

HEBBURN’S impressive start to the season continued as they came out on top in this all Northern League Vase tie on South Tyneside.

Honours were even in the first half, both goals coming in the final quarter of an hour.

Billingham had an early chance when Clark Reader fired over the bar, James Fairley and Michael Richardson with efforts at the other end.

Hebburn took the lead when Fairley’s cross from the right saw veteran striker Graeme Armstrong’s header for the promoted Hornets parried by Roberts. Luke Sullivan was on hand to head home the rebound – a lead that lasted eight minutes.

Relegated Synthonia saw manager’s son Ben Pollock’s unstoppable 18-yard drive fly past Stephen Hubery in the home goal.

Billingham boss Jamie Pollock, the former Premier League midfielder, will have been content at the halfway stage.

The second half, however, saw Hebburn, unbeaten in the league, step up a gear.

A Ryan Greer foul on Richardson saw Armstrong send Roberts the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Matty Wilson shot just over for Synners before Ben Dibb-Fuller added a third goal in injury time.