Two goals from Hebburn keep the quest alive

HEBBURN Town’s quest to claim two consecutive FA Vase wins remains alive after they battled to a narrow home win against Liversedge.

The visitors arrived on South Tyneside looking to end the Vase dreams of a fourth Northern League side after seeing off Guisborough Town, Newcastle Benfield and Ryhope CW.

And they certainly looked like a side capable of troubling Kevin Bolam’s men during a tight and nervy 2 1

opening 45 minutes.

Neither side had created anything of note during a scrappy first half-hour but that all changed when Amar Purewal headed the hosts ahead.

The lead was almost wiped out within four minutes when the woodwork came to Hebburn’s aid as Ollie Fearon’s powerful effort hit the crossbar.

The warning was not heeded and the two sides were sent into half-time on level-terms as experienced striker Tom Greaves grabbed an equaliser for the visitors.

The former FC United of Manchester man broke in beyond the Hornets defence before angling a drive beyond the advancing Mark Foden and into the net.

The opening stages of the secondhalf produced a scrappy passage of play as neither side could find their range and tempo.

A cross from Richardson that evaded Hornets captain Louis Storey was the closest either side came to grabbing the third goal of the game.

However, that finally arrived 20 minutes from time as Michael Mckeown was given time and space on the edge of the area and stroked a low shot into the far corner of the net.

The former North Shields and Morpeth Town man could have killed off any hopes that the visitors had of mounting a comeback when he found himself in a similar position with five minutes left, but this time he struck his shot well over the crossbar.