Northallerton Town 2

Ashington 2

TWO late goals from leading scorer Andy Brown salvaged a vital point for Northallerton Town in their top of the table clash against Division Two leaders Ashington last Saturday.

The visitors made a storming start and were gifted the lead in the second minute. Town keeper Darren Poole did well to tip an in-swinging right wing corner from Alex Lawson over the bar, but from the next flag kick by Ian Johnson, Poole misjudged the flight and, in an attempt to tip the ball over again, he only managed to push the ball into his own net.

Town hit back and created a good chance to equalise in the fourth minute through Wayne Gredziak, who broke through the middle but produced a poor shot which keeper Paul Simpson easily saved. Then in the tenth minute a Richard Booth cross was met by Russ Edwards, whose eight-yard drive went just wide.

Booth should have done better in the 22nd minute when, from a good position in front of goal, he fired high and wide and Simpson then had to be alert on the half hour mark as he went full length to cut out a dangerous right wing cross from Andy McCreesh.

Just before the break Town were desperately unlucky as a right wing in-swinging corner from Paul Wratten was missed by Simpson, but full back Lee Anderson cleared off the line.

Town continued to press in the second half, but in the opening minutes they could not convert their possession into scoring chances. The nearest they came to an equaliser was in the 65th minute, but Edwards fired in a weak shot which was easily dealt with by Simpson.

Two minutes later, a Wratten free kick was palmed away by Simpson, but only as far as Paul Combellack. He played the ball back into the area to Brown, who headed just over the bar.

But Town were caught on the break in the 70th minute when Alan Hogg advanced to the edge of the Town area before playing a perfect lob over the advancing Poole.

To their credit, Town came storming back and reduced the deficit in the 78th minute when substitute James Allen crossed from the right wing to Brown, who made no mistake as he blasted the ball home from ten yards.

Town then pounded the visitors' goal and they were rewarded five minutes from time as Combellack's throw down the line on the left flank was won by Gredziak. He did well to shake off the challenge of defender Graeme McCabe before crossing to Brown, who scored his second with a well-placed close range flick.

The point keeps Town in sixth place, four points behind leaders Ashington, but with at least one game in hand over all the teams above them.

Town are at home again tomorrow when fourth in the table South Shields visit the Calvert Stadium, kick off 3pm.