NORTHALLERTON Town held off a late Washington comeback last Saturday to record a dramatic victory at the Regency Stadium.

It was the visitors who took an 11th minute lead.

James Fairley did well to drive the ball across the sixyard box for Mark Davison to apply the final touch.

But the lead lasted barely five minutes. Aaron Ramsbottom was brought down in the penalty area and new signing Stuart Owen coolly slotted home from the spot.

And they were in front by the break. Dale Elgie whipped in a great cross from the right and Andy Ramsbottom’s stunning volley gave the ‘keeper no chance.

Town added a third goal in the 49th minute when newboy Mark Stephenson headed home.

The Mechanics rallied, and had two efforts cannon off the crossbar.

But it appeared to be game over in the 81st minute when Aaron Ramsbottom smashed home the fourth after a neat flick by debutant Simon Pinkney.

Town don’t do things the easy way though and Paul Wardle made it 4-2 with a towering header before Winn scrambled home in stoppagetime to set the home nerves jangling.

And then with the last action of a pulsating match, Winn had the chance to grab an unlikely point.

Put through by Wardle, the normally lethal finisher dragged his effort wide of the target and Town held on.

A SUPERB hat-trick from Nathan Mulligan earned Guisborough Town an emphatic 6-0 victory over West Allotment Celtic at the KGV Stadium on Saturday.

Guisborough are now seventh in the Division One and after a rather stuttering start, they are now firing on all cylinders and have scored an impressive 19 goals in their last four games.

The Priorymen were just 1-0 ahead at half-time, this was thanks to Anthony Hume who slotted home from a James Risbrough pass.

In the 64th minute they doubled their lead when midfielder Mulligan beat several Celtic players before curling the ball sublimely into the top corner from outside the penalty area.

That goal opened the floodgates and five minutes later Mulligan cut in from the wing, beat several defenders before hitting his second goal of the match to make in 3-0.

Substitute Matty McQueenie scored in the 81st minute to register his first Northern League goal for the Priorymen, while another substitute, Chay Liddle, made it five before Mulligan completed the rout – and his hat-trick – in the 85th minute.

Tomorrow, Guisborough take on Bishop Auckland at the KGV Stadium.