Shildon 1

Northallerton Town 0

NORTHALLERTON Town's seven-match unbeaten start to the league season came to an end when they lost 1-0 at in-form Shildon.

The home team made a positive start and almost took the lead after just 30 seconds when Dave Mawson hit a cracking drive from 20 yards which Darren Poole did well to save.

But Town hit back and were almost presented with a gift goal in the second minute as ex-player Ian Robinson played a wayward back pass wide of his own keeper, but full back Lee Mason cleared.

The only goal of the game came in the third minute when Dale White's left wing cross was swept home from six yards by the unmarked Les Langley. Two minutes later Langley had a great chance to put his side further ahead when he met a right wing cross from Dave Brumpton, but Poole made a great save.

The visitors hit back in the ninth minute when Russ Edwards played a superb forward pass to Paul Combellack, whose angled shot from the right went just over the bar. A minute later a right wing cross from Andy Brown was met by Matthew Swales, but his weak shot was easily saved by Shildon keeper Drew Inglis.

Shildon regained the upper hand, winning three successive corners which Town desperately cleared, and Poole again came to the rescue when he made a good save to deny Brumpton. It was all Shildon at this stage and Poole again made a good save to foil the lively Brumpton following a good build up from the right wing.

Town came more into it and their best chance of the half came in the 29th minute. Brown crossed from the right to Edwards, whose downward header was turned round the post by Inglis.

The home side created a great chance to extend their lead in the 37th minute, but Charlie Walton headed over the bar at the far post with the goal at his mercy.

Town had two good chances to equalise in first half injury time. First Brown cut in from the left wing and hit a low shot which Inglis did well to save and then Brown fed the ball through to Combellack, whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Shildon attacked from the kick off at the start of the second half, with Lee Hainsworth hitting a stunning 22-yard drive which Poole did well to parry away for a corner. Town replied through Brown, who fired just wide, but the Railwaymen hit back through substitute Doug Grant, who raced clear into the Town area only for man of the match Poole to again produce a brilliant save.

Town fought for the equaliser, pushing defender Paul O'Brien up front, and they were almost rewarded in the 70th minute when Andy Thompson's header from a Paul Wratten right wing corner was deflected wide. From Wratten's second corner Ed Daly shaved the post.

Poole again kept his side in with a chance when he produced a wonder save to keep out a header from Craig Swainston and Town almost salvaged a point in the last minute when a great shot from O'Brien on the left was fumbled by Inglis. But Walton was the saviour as he cleared just before Brown pounced.

The defeat has dropped Town from third to sixth in the league and a large crowd is expected tomorrow at the Calvert Stadium when second-placed Ashington are the visitors. Kick off is at 3pm.

Craven Cup, 1st round

Esh Winning 3

Northallerton Town 2

Manager Micky Hodgson rested seven key players as a weakened Northallerton Town were knocked out of the Second Division Craven Cup at Esh Winning.

Town took the lead in the seventh minute through Robert Anderson, but the home side equalised in the 20th minute through Mark Drake and then took the lead on the stroke of half time through Scott Oliver.

Esh Winning extended their lead in the 62nd minute through Oliver, but Town reduced the arrears in the 83rd minute through Matthew Swales