12:17pm Friday 22nd September 2006
Dunston Federation Brewery 2 Northallerton Town 1.
NORTHALLERTON Town manager Paul Burton was again unable to field his strongest side for last Saturday's division one game at Dunston Federation Brewery.
Leading scorer Carl Chillingsworth and midfield players Steven Cochrane and Ross Diamond were all suspended, while defenders Andy Swalwell and Simon Kasonali, along with striker Craig Skelton, are still recovering from injuries, although all were included on the bench.
Dunston made the better start and went close in the 14th minute when a left-wing cross from Graeme Armstrong was headed over the bar by Steven Preen.
They took the lead six minutes later when Preen spotted keeper Sam Dobbs slightly off his line and hit a 25-yard lob into the back of the net.
It was all Dunston in what was becoming a one-sided first half, with Town on the back foot for long periods, but they defended well and Dobbs was having a great game in goal.
Dunston went close to adding a second in the 42nd minute through Michael Laws, whose long-range shot skimmed the crossbar, then Dobbs made a fine save when he went full-length to keep out a low drive from Preen which was heading for the bottom corner.
Town failed to create any clear-cut chances in the first half as the home defence was always on top of a static-looking Northallerton forward line.
But there was some improvement in the second half and Micky Waller gave the Town fans some hope when his 30-yard drive went inches wide of the post.
But Dobbs was the busier of the two keepers and he made a fantastic save in the 49th minute when he tipped a close-range, bullet header from Preen over the bar.
Karl Charlton almost equalised in the 55th minute when he latched on to a forward ball from Stuart Jackson, but, after rounding keeper Andy Clark, his shot from a tight angle went over the bar.
But Dunston regained the upper hand and Dobbs again excelled when he went full-length to his right to tip a 20-yard drive from Adam Scope round the post.
Dunston added their second in the 65th minute with an amazing goal from Armstrong, who collected the ball in the centre circle before beating three defenders and slipping the ball under the advancing Dobbs into the bottom corner of the net.
Town applied late pressure and Dane Wilson went close in the 85th minute with a looping header which hit the bar.
The visitors got some reward in the last minute when David Turner was tripped in the area by Leon Scott. Turner kept his feet, but the referee awarded a penalty kick and Turner sent Clark the wrong way from the spot.
Northallerton are in cup action tomorrow when they are at home to Ashington in the Carlsberg FA Vase and they are at home again on Wednesday when they entertain West Allotment Celtic in the league, kick-off 7.30.
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