DUNSTON became the sixth STL Northern League side through to the last 32 of the FA Carlsberg Vase, but manager Billy Irwin admitted they nearly blew their chance in the 2-0 home win over Heather St John.

The Tynesiders improved the league’s chances of more Wembley success thanks to two early second half goals by Andy Bulford, but Irwin said his side could have gone out to their unfancied visitors.

“We were flat in the first half, and we were lucky not to be at least one goal behind at half-time,” he said. “That could have been costly, because Heather St John are a decent team.

“But in the second half, we were back to our normal selves, and once we scored there was only team in it.”

The visitors hit the bar in the first half as they enjoyed the better of the game, but Dunston were much improved after half-time, and Bulford scored from a Michael Dixon pass a minute after the break.

It became 2-0 when Bulford finished off a good move with a header from Lee McAndrew’s cross.

Dunston are now away to Runcorn from the North West Counties League this Saturday.

■ Durham City hit Woodley Sports for six in the Evostik League, but joint manager Lee Collings thought it wasn’t their best performance of the season.

City ran rampant with some good football, and Collings said: “I thought we played better in midweek against Dunston.

“But we defended better against Woodley and didn’t make as many mistakes. We told the players to blitz Woodley at the start of the second half, and they certainly did.”

City went behind after 19 minutes to an overhead kick by Chris Smith, but equalised when Stephen Thompson ran from the halfway line, played a one-two, and fired into the top corner.

Ross Wilkinson then sent Amar Purewal running clear to beat the keeper before halftime.

Former Sunderland striker David Dowson raced away and lobbed the keeper for the third straight after half-time, and on 48 minutes Purewal scored from an Elliott Cutts cross.

Purewal chested down another Cutts cross for 5-1 on 52 minutes, and Thompson got the sixth after he was brought down on 57 minutes.

Woodley pulled a late goal back through Sam Walker.

Whitby’s home game with Buxton was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

■ Premier League referee Chris Foy is the guest speaker of Bishop Auckland Referees Society at Bishop Auckland Cricket Club on Thursday beginning at 7pm.

Everyone welcome, admission free.