Easington Colliery 3 Northallerton Town 7

POOR finishing has cost Peter Mulcaster's side dearly this season, but it was lethal last Saturday as they turned on the style to trounce Easington Colliery.

Northallerton made the best possible start to the game, taking the lead after just 48 seconds.

Following a Ross Diamond corner, Steven Boyle, unmarked on the edge of the area, brilliantly volleyed into the top left-hand corner of the net, giving home keeper Andy Hoggarth no chance.

Town continued to press and they increased their lead in the tenth minute through Paul Coleby, who made a superb run through the inside left slot before turning defender Paul Milner and beating Hoggarth with an angled drive.

Easington, stunned by Town's early onslaught, tried to get back into the game and keeper Darren Poole had to be alert in the 20th minute to keep out a left-sided curling shot from Lee Blackett.

A minute later, the same player made a good run through the middle, but his weak shot was easily dealt with by Poole.

But Town regained the upper hand and they increased their lead in the 33rd minute through leading scorer David Onions.

He was put clear through the middle by a perfect pass from Andy Howarth and, although his first shot was blocked by the legs of Hoggarth, he kept his composure as the ball came back to him to score with a simple tap-in.

Northallerton went 4-0 up in the 36th minute with a brilliant individual goal from Boyle, who beat two defenders as he skipped his way through the home defence before scoring with a low drive from the edge of the six-yard box.

Easington pulled a goal back in the 39th minute through Blackett, who fired home from ten yards following a left-wing cross from Peter Ould.

The home side gave themselves some hope when they scored again on the stroke of half-time, Dave Taylor firing home via the post following a right-wing corner from Dominic Rice.

Easington, sensing that they could get back into the game, made a determined start to the second half, but Town remained in control and Poole was never seriously threatened.

However, the home side did create a good chance in the 62nd minute when a ball over the defence from Dean Hannah was met by Ould, but his poor shot was easily saved by Poole.

But Town were in no mood to let it slip and, after going close in the 63rd minute when Boyle fired narrowly over the bar, they increased their lead two minutes later.

Ross Diamond forced his way through a static home defence and, after rounding Hoggarth, rolled the ball into the empty net.

It was now all Northallerton and they were denied a sixth in the 70th minute when a goal-bound shot from Andy Cole, following a Matthew Cook right-wing corner, was cleared off the line by Paul Pringle.

But the sixth duly arrived in the 75th minute. Cole, on the left, played the ball inside to Onions and he made no mistake in a one-on-one with Hoggarth to record his 27th goal of the season.

Goal number seven came in the 80th minute when substitute Gary Shardha played a superb left-wing cross into the path of Boyle, who joyfully hammered the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards to complete a superb hat-trick.

Easington, who beat Town 3-1 at the Calvert Stadium earlier in the season, scored a late consolation through Taylor, who beat Poole with a glancing header following a left-wing cross from Tony Hanson.

Town now have three home games to finish the season. Tomorrow they entertain Hebburn, kick-off 3pm, and championship favourites Penrith are the visitors on Wednesday, kick-off 7.30.

Finally, Seaham Red Star, who are still in the hunt for the third promotion spot, are the visitors on Saturday, May 3, kick-off 3pm.

l Northallerton were unable to follow up their success at Easington when they lost 2-1 at Kennek Ryhope CA on Tuesday night