Leek Town and Hebburn Town met for the very first time in a game that saw the end of an era. Leek striker Tim Grice played his 500th and last game for the Blues having decided to call time on his 13 years with the club; a remarkable showing of loyalty at any level of football.

As well as setting a record number of appearances Grice is also Leeks all time leading goal scorer netting 250 goals in that time; an impressive strike rate of a goal every 2 games. It could have been 251 and a fairytale ending when with the scores level Grice was put clean through in the 90th minute but visiting keeper Hunter did well to force him wide and deny the shooting opportunity.

In an entertaining game Leek had earlier raced into a two goal lead with both goals coming in the space of two minutes to shock their visitors and cap an impressive first half display by the home team.

Lucas Weir scored the first after 36mins with a well placed header after Hebburn had failed to clear a ball in from Tyreece Onyeka. Onyeka then got on the scoresheet himself on 38mins, scoring at the second attempt with his shot taking a slight deflection to curl inside the far post beyond Hornets keeper Kieran Hunter.

The 2-0 scoreline the Blues took into half time was the least they deserved with a measured performance and some passing football that was pleasing on the eye. The midfield of Lucas Weir, Adam Porter and Liam Buckley were working hard and Onyeka was a permanent threat down the right eventually reaping the rewards of a goal and an assist.

Apart from the goals Ollie Shenton had a shot blocked inside the area, Porter had a shot deflected wide when it could have gone anywhere and Nathan Okome had a header saved on the line by Hunter from Porters cross following a well worked free kick routine

Meanwhile the Blues defence was looking comfortable in keeping one of the leagues top scorers, Amar Purewal, quiet and restricting the visitors to just a couple of efforts. Olly Martins drive was straight into the midriff of Leek keeper Dino Visser after 23mins whilst Leo Robinson latched onto a header from Scott Butler intended for Visser after 40mins that was a yard short to lift the ball past the keeper but Okome did brilliantly to hook the ball off the line and preserve the two goal lead.

LEEK TOWN 2 - HEBBURN TOWN 0 HT

Hebburn, looking to go second with a win, came out with more purpose in the second half and, prompted by an early triple substitution, they started to lay siege to the Leek goal using the long ball to take advantage of their overall height superiority. It may not have been pretty but it was to prove to be effective.

After Robbie Spence had volleyed straight at Leek goalkeeper on 52mins, meeting a free kick swung in from the right, the Hornets pulled a goal back after 58mins. Martins flighted ball diagonal ball was headed home by substitute Bailey Adamson.

The wind was in Hebburns sails now and a series of long throws, corners and free kicks continued to be delivered forward by the visitors to put the Leek defence under severe pressure but the Blues, albeit a little desperately at times, were proving to be stubborn opponents and managing to repel the attacks with Visser commanding his area well behind them and producing a couple of important punches and tip overs.

However, the resistance was finally broken in the 84th minute when Joe Posthill’s ball from the left curled its way over to the far post to find Martin who managed to fire home from a narrow angle and make it 2-2

It seemed certain Hebburn would now go on to cap the comeback with a win but it was actually Leek who came the closest to snatching a victory in the late stages of the game but Lady Luck and the woodwork was against them.

The Blues were now led by a new substitute frontline of Grice, who had come onto the pitch to a standing ovation to mark his milestone of 500 appearances, and new signing Owen Windsor.

And it was Windsor who met a cross from the Leek left with a volley on 89mins that smacked against the Hebburn crossbar and came back into play before Weir picked up the loose ball and fired in a right footed effort that virtually hit the same spot on the air before finally being cleared..

Then, as the game entered injury time, there was that final Grice chance as he was played through by a sliding pass from Joe Woolley, but Hunter had not read the script and denied the striker his final moment of glory in a Leek shirt and ensure the points were shared.

LEEK TOWN 2 - HEBBURN TOWN 2 FT

Highlights & Moorlands Sports Radio Post Match Interview HERE

Match Photos courtesy of Jim Booth HERE

REPORT FROM WINNERS LAD

So a point gained against a tough opponent who have only lost twice in the league previously, a respite for a couple of weeks with the next scheduled league game on the 9 November against FC United at the F Ball Community Stadium.

Keep an eye on social as there may be friendly arranged for Thursday evening.