A HAT-TRICK from in-demand striker Adam Emson, his 28th, 29th and 30th goals of the season, ensured the Northallerton Town revival continued with a victory over Stokesley SC last Saturday.

Emson, who has been courted by several Division One clubs in recent weeks, showed his worth with three finishes of the highest quality to seal a fourth consecutive win for promotion-chasing Town.

Manager Mark Fanning made just one change to the side that had won 4-2 at Seaham the previous weekend – Steve Butterworth replacing the now departed Pete Bulmer on the right side of midfield.

The game had been in doubt right up until Saturday morning, due to standing water on the pitch, but thanks to the hard work of Les Hood and his ground staff it was deemed playable by referee Steven Watson.

Town were on the front foot from the start and Butterworth twice came close to breaking the deadlock in the opening seven minutes. He fired over at the far post after a cross-field ball from Ian Smurthwaite after four minutes, before seeing a close-range effort blocked by defender Phillip King soon after.

But it should have been 1-0 in the 19th minute. Gav Parkin’s corner hit the top of the crossbar and fell invitingly for Emson at the far post, but with the goal gaping, he somehow blasted over.

However, the leading scorer would more than make amends ten minutes later. A long ball from the back by Danny Shoulder found Emson on the halfway line and he easily beat his man before racing towards goal and as Laverick came out to narrow the angle, he coolly slotted home from 18 yards.

The only danger going into half-time was that Town had not managed to find a second goal.

Grant Hickman saw an effort pushed on to the roof of the net by Laverick before Butterworth and Dunwell both came close.

Fanning expressed to his troops during the interval just how vital it was to kill the game off and they came out for the second half looking determined to do just that.

Emson was denied by Laverick at full stretch within four minutes of the restart, but it was 2-0 seven minutes later.

James Bowman, who was having another fine game down the left, burst into the penalty area and when the ball broke to Mickey Dunwell, he showed great awareness to square for Emson to score.

Town could now relax and began to knock the ball round as well as was possible on the difficult surface.

Dave Alderson nearly made it 3-0 after getting on the end of Emson’s left-wing cross two minutes later, while Butterworth beat Laverick with a 20- yard chip, only to see the ball land on top of the net.

But Emson completed a classy hat-trick 20 minutes from time to finally put the game to bed.

Parkin’s long ball sent him clear again and this time the former Stokesley man nonchalantly chipped the ball over the advancing Laverick from 12 yards, a great way to bring up 30 goals for the season.

The visitors did grab a consolation almost immediately with a fine strike from Greg Upton, much to the delight of his grandfather, who was watching from the stands, but it was Town who had the final word soon afterwards.

Parkin was again the creator with a lovely free kick to the far post and Bowman did the rest with a towering header for his third goal in the last four matches.

“It was a very good three points,” said Fanning at the whistle.

“We controlled the game but I was a little concerned at halftime that we had not got the second goal. It was comfortable in the end and with others around us dropping points it was a vital win.”

Town travel to struggling Whickham tomorrow afternoon looking to keep the pressure on the teams above them.