Northallerton Town boss Paul Burton read the riot act to his team following their latest defeat last Saturday.

They went down 3-0 at South Shields the previous Tuesday evening before producing another unacceptable performance to lose 1-0 at home to league newcomers North Shields.

Town made a promising start through Ross Foreman, whose header in the ninth minute following a David Cooke right-wing cross went just wide of the post.

Then, in the 18th minute, following some good link-up play involving Cooke, Anthony Roberts and Dominic Gamble, recent signing Stephen Cochrane fired just over the bar from the left angle of the area.

But, after absorbing this early Town pressure, North Shields took a 22nd-minute lead with their first meaningful attack. Paul Gibb out-jumped the home defence to powerfully head home from the edge of the six-yard box following a right-wing cross from Ray Gordon.

Town had a great chance to equalise in the 28th minute when Foreman, unmarked at the far post, met a superb right-wing cross from Cooke. But, from just two yards out, he somehow managed to fire over the bar.

Northallerton continued to create chances in what was generally a one-sided game, but a mixture of poor finishing and bad luck prevented the equaliser.

In the 38th minute, a great header by Roberts from a Paul right-wing cross went inches wide of the post and, right on the stroke of half-time, Roberts made a superb run through the heart of the visitors' defence only to produce a poor shot which went high over the bar.

The second half went the same way as the first with Town on top, but North Shields, who hadn't won in seven previous games this season, defended well and restricted the home side to mainly long-range efforts which were easily dealt with by keeper David Lanning.

In the 67th minute, a 30-yard drive from Micky Waller was saved and two minutes later a 35-yard shot from Craig Winter went well wide as Town became desperate.

But, with time running out, they were desperately unlucky when a header from Winter, following a left-sided free kick from Cochrane, smacked against the crossbar.

Five minutes from time, substitute John Outhwaite fired over the bar from the edge of the six-yard box.

This defeat has dropped Town to ninth place in division two with 14 points from ten games.

Prudhoe Town are the leaders with 23 points from nine games, next come West Allotment Celtic with 23 from 12, followed by Washington Nissan 19 from eight, Newcastle Blue Star 18 from eight, Crook Town 18 from seven, Washington 17 from eight, Penrith 14 from nine and Marske United 14 from nine.

Town travel to Seaham Red Star tomorrow and on Saturday, October 23 they have a rearranged fixture when they travel to Kennek Ryhope CA. Both games have 3pm kick-offs.

Their next home game is on Wednesday, October 27 when Easington Colliery are the visitors, kick-off 7.30.