FOLLOWING the 2-1 defeat by Newcastle Blue Star in their last home league game and then the penalty shoot-out loss to Evenwood Town, Northallerton manager Paul Burton was pleased with the attitude shown by his side in their 4-1 victory at bottom club Willington last Saturday.

He said: "I know that on paper this was a game that we were expected to win easily, but it rarely works out that way. Willington are down at the bottom of the league, but that doesn't mean a thing.

"They were fighting for their lives today and they made it tough for us, but we approached it in the right way and came out of it okay."

Town made all the running in the first half and, after a cautious opening, they created the first chance in the tenth minute. Simon Colligan had a great opportunity when he was clear through on goal, but although his lob from ten yards beat home keeper Chris Sawyer, it also cleared the bar.

Town continued to press and they were rewarded in the 17th minute when John Ryan crashed a shot from the right past Sawyer and into the back of the net via the far post after Craig Skelton had flicked on a left-wing cross from Dominic Gamble.

Skelton then went close to adding a second when he turned sharply in the box only to see his shot go inches wide of the post.

Northallerton increased their lead on the stroke of half-time through Skelton, who fired home from 16 yards following a left-wing cross from Gamble.

Skelton again went close in first-half stoppage time when he was picked out by a quickly-taken free kick from Andy Swalwell, but after turning sharply and beating a defender, his shot just cleared the bar.

Willington, who are now under the guidance of the former Town reserves management duo of Tim Burn and Steve Cooke, gave themselves some hope when they pulled a goal back in the 57th minute.

Michael Hillary scored direct from a well-flighted right-wing corner which deceived keeper Sam Dobbs as it flew over him into the back of the net.

Town hit back and Skelton went close to adding to his tally in the 67th minute, but he was just wide of the far post with a lob over the keeper from the right.

Ian Williams had a superb chance to restore Town's two-goal advantage in the 77th minute after he received a ball from the right from Skelton. But, faced with an open goal, he fired over the bar from eight yards.

Any hope Willington had of causing an upset disappeared in the 79th minute when Gamble scored a great individual goal. He cut into the area from the left and hit a stunning low, angled drive which beat Sawyer at the near post.

Town added to their tally in the 89th minute through Andy Swalwell, who gave Sawyer no chance with a powerful 22-yard drive which flew into the back of the net.

Northallerton, who are at home to third-placed West Allotment Celtic tomorrow, lead the table with 69 points from 31 games. Second are Washington Nissan with 65 from 28, West Allotment Celtic and Newcastle Blue Star both have 64 from 28 and Prudhoe Town are fifth with 64 from 31.

* Northallerton reached the semi-finals of the Craven Cup when they won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Newcastle Blue Star on Tuesday night.