Northallerton Town 4

Whickham 1

NORTHALLERTON Town moved up into third place in Division Two after following up their 9-1 demolition of Eppleton in mid-week with a fine 4-1 home victory over Tyneside-based Whickham on Saturday.

Town went close to taking the lead in the second minute as a Paul Wratten 20-yard free kick went just wide and two minutes later a Richard Booth header from an O'Brien cross was well saved by visiting keeper Paul Hedley.

The home side continued to press and again went close in the eighth minute as a header from O'Brien, following a Wratten free kick, shaved the post.

A fourth good chance came Town's way in the 15th minute as Booth made a good run into the area but, after beating two defenders, he shot inches wide.

Whickham almost caught Town on the break as Peter Craddock broke quickly into the area, but keeper Darren Poole made a good low save.

Town hit back and almost broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when Andy Brown made a determined run down the right flank before crossing to Booth, whose close range shot was well saved by Hedley.

Five minutes later an O'Brien shot following a pass from Russ Edwards beat Hedley, but full back Tommy Scott cleared off the line.

Town finally went ahead a minute before half time when Brown broke clear inside the area, only to be hauled down from behind by Mark Gaffney, who was sent off. The penalty was easily converted by O'Brien.

Northallerton made a good start to the second half and should have increased their lead in the 56th minute when Poole played a fine long ball to O'Brien on the left wing.

He advanced before putting over an inch-perfect cross on to the head of Booth who missed the target from four yards out.

But the ten men of Whickham fought back and equalised in the 62nd minute through Paul Wilson, who hit a direct free kick from the left touch line over Poole's head and into the far corner.

Encouraged by this success, the visitors attacked strongly and were denied the lead by the offside flag in the 65th minute after Paul Cavanagh netted.

But Town were in no mood to be denied and they regained the lead three minutes later through Andy Thompson, who scored via the post after re-directing a wayward shot from David McKinlay wide of the wrong-footed Hedley.

The Yorkshiremen finished strongly and increased their lead in the 79th minute through substitute Wayne Gredziak, who scored with his first touch, a simple tap-in following a good run and cross from the right wing by Brown.

Matthew Swales completed the scoring for Town a minute later when he latched onto a through ball from Gredziak and scored a fine individual goal after beating two defenders inside the box. It was his first goal for Town.

Tomorrow, Town hope to keep their unbeaten league run going at Shildon, kick off 3pm. Their next home match is on the following Saturday when second-placed Ashington visit the Calvert Stadium, kick off 3pm.

Eppleton CW 1

Northallerton Town 9

Paul Combellack led the way with four goals as Northallerton thrashed basement club Eppleton CW the previous Wednesday.

Town took the lead in the sixth minute through Andy Brown and increased their lead in the 43rd minute when Andy Thompson headed home.

Two minutes later, Richard Booth scored his first for Northallerton and in first half injury time Town went further ahead through Combellack. The same player made it 5-0 at the start of the second half, but the home side pulled one back straight from the re-start through Trevor Laidler.

Town went 6-1 up in the 58th minute when Booth scored his second, Combellack completed his hat-trick six minutes later and added his fourth and Town's eighth in the 72nd minute. Eppleton had a man sent off two minutes later and substitute Wayne Gredziak ended the romp with the ninth goal in the 81st minute.

l Northallerton were brought back down to earth with a 3-2 defeat at Esh Winning in the Craven Cup on Tuesday night