NORTHALLERTON Town remain on course to retain the Ernest Armstrong Trophy as two goals in two second-half minutes from Col Anderson and Adam Emson completed a fine comeback against Jarrow Roofing at the RGPS on Wednesday of last week.

After overcoming the shock of going behind inside the opening two minutes with a superb equaliser from Mickey Dunwell before half time, Townbooked their place in the final for a second year in a row with goals from Anderson and Emson midway through the second period – the perfect way for Peter Mulcaster to celebrate being confirmed as full time manager.

“I am delighted it is all sorted,” said Mulcaster after being told the good news in the wake of this semi-final victory.

“It means we can now plan for next season. This is the best group of players I have ever worked with and hopefully we can retain most of them.

“I was extremely fortunate to inherit such a talented group and thankfully we managed to keep them all with us.

The aim now is to improve the squad for next season so we can achieve promotion.”

As for the match, Mulcaster said: “We deserved it tonight.

We worked hard and played with more intensity than we did on Saturday. It is great to be in the final again and of course we want to win it now.

“Although we scored the important goals in second half, I thought we were outstanding before the break. The early goal seemed to really focus us and we played some good football. The final will be another tough game against a very good West Allotment Celtic side, but we have three league games to play before we can think about that.”

  • The final against West Allotment Celtic is at Billingham Synthonia on Monday, noon kick-off. Town will be running a coach from the RGPS Stadium, leaving at 10.30am.

Return fare is £10.

Town saw their fading hopes of promotion ended last Saturday with a 6-0 defeat at Morpeth.

However, Town bounced back from that disappointment with a 4-0 home win over Whitehaven on Monday evening with goals from Steve Butterworth, Carl Chillingsworth (2) and Col Anderson.