Division One

Northallerton Town 0

Dunston FB 2

NORTHALLERTON Town suffered their second consecutive division one defeat when they went down at home to fifth-placed Dunston Federation Brewery.

Town manager Paul Burton had to make two changes as midfielder Steve Cochrane, who was sent off in the 3-2 defeat at Horden in their previous league game, was suspended and striker Craig Skelton was still out injured.

Dunston made a positive start to the game and went close to taking the lead in the fourth minute when Scott Robson made a good opening for himself before shooting straight at keeper Sam Dobbs from just inside the area.

Town replied through Karl Charlton, who made a good run down the left before cutting into the area. But he elected to pass when a shot on goal would have been the better option.

Northallerton continued to press as Charlton made another good run down the left before crossing into the area, where Carl Chillingsworth just failed to get a clean connection on a spectacular overhead kick, allowing keeper Andrew Clark to save.

End-to-end play followed as Dunston hit back through Steven Preen, who made a superb run through the middle before hitting a shot from the edge of the area which went inches over the bar.

Town were twice desperately unlucky in the 16th minute when a Martin O'Riordan shot from the right angle of the six-yard box was cleared off the line by Leon Scott. From Charlton's resulting left-wing corner, Chillingsworth's close-range drive was blocked on the line by full back Steve Pickering.

Dunston went close a minute later with a 35-yard free kick from Adam Scope which went just wide.

Visiting keeper Clark then made a superb low save to keep out a downward header from Chillingsworth following a Chris Walker right-wing cross.

It was still end-to-end play, but two goals in the space of three minutes gave Dunston a huge advantage.

They went ahead in the 26th minute when a right-sided free kick was headed home by Scott and Graeme Armstrong added a second in the 29th minute when he forced the ball home from close range after chesting down a right-wing cross from Hogg.

The visitors had a great chance to put the game beyond Town in the first minute of the second half when Armstrong made a great run from the halfway line into the Town area, but produced a poor shot wide of the target.

Micky Waller went close for Town in the 61st minute with a 30-yard free kick which skimmed the bar before Charlton was just off target with a shot from the left.

But the home side suffered a major blow in the 73rd minute when leading scorer Chillingsworth was sent off for kicking out at an opponent in an off-the-ball incident.

Dunston finished the game the stronger and went close to adding a third in the closing stages when a 25-yard free kick from substitute Ben Johnson crashed against the bar.

Town visit West Allotment Celtic tomorrow, kick-off 3pm, and on Wednesday they are away to Guisborough Town in the semi-final of the North Riding Senior Cup.

Darlington RA manager David Woodcock admitted that only the UniBond League can save them from relegation after they were beaten 3-2 at home by fellow strugglers West Allotment.

The RA are now well and truly rooted in the relegation zone, but they could be saved if three Northern League clubs move to the UniBond League at the end of the season, because then no club would be relegated.

"We let ourselves down badly," said Woodcock. "Two of the goals that we let in were poor goals to concede at this standard. We've given too many goals away this season, and other teams haven't had to work hard to score against us.

"It's going to be very difficult to avoid relegation now - only the UniBond League can save us."

There was a big mix-up in the RA defence for the first goal when keeper Nicky Farrell collided with one of his defenders and Alex Houlsby tapped in.

Paul Mills dribbled through to make it 2-0, but Steve Johnson cleverly beat a defender to pull a goal back just before half-time.

However, more bad defending allowed Andy Watson to set up Houlsby for the third after the break.

Charlie Walton pulled a goal back late in the game.

Division Two

Fifth-placed Guisborough dropped points, drawing their local derby at Stokesley 0-0, with both teams having a man sent off.

Marske, who have games in hand on the leaders, won 2-1 at Prudhoe to go sixth. Adam McMahon scored from a tight angle to give Marske the lead, which Liam McPhillips doubled with a low shot.

Norton easily beat Ryton 4-0 at Station Road. Harrison Davies gave them a half-time lead, with Chris Wrathmall, Nathan Mulligan and Richie Gaston scoring after half-time.

Thornaby and North Shields drew 0-0