Northallerton Town 1

Newcastle Blue Star 2

THIRD-PLACED Newcastle Blue Star, with four games in hand over division two leaders Northallerton Town, closed the gap to just five points with last Saturday's 2-1 victory at the Calvert Stadium.

After having the better of the opening exchanges Blue Star, who beat Town 2-0 on their ground last month, took the lead on 13 minutes through their leading scorer Michael Fenwick, who fired home from 12 yards following a right-wing cross from Michael Dixon.

Town came close to equalising in the 22nd minute through Craig Skelton, who met a great headed through ball from Craig Winter. But Blue Star keeper Adam Dowell made a superb save to tip Skelton's well-struck ten-yard drive over the bar for a corner.

Blue Star increased their lead with a bizarre goal in the 28th minute. There appeared to be little danger when Town central defender Stuart Jackson went to clear a long ball from Dowell, but his attempted clearance came off the outside of his boot and over advancing Town keeper Sam Dobbs, who had come well off his line to collect after calling for Jackson to leave it.

Northallerton were given a great chance to pull a goal back in the 35th minute when they were awarded a penalty after striker John Ryan was hauled down in the area by Ian Kirkpatrick, who was fortunate to get away with only a caution from referee Ashley Cooper. But Dowell made a great save as he went to his right to turn away Skelton's spot kick.

Five minutes later Skelton almost made amends for his penalty miss when he powered in a header at the far post following a Simon Colligan right-wig cross, but the impressive Dowell made another good save.

On the stroke of half-time, Ryan flashed a shot just wide of the far post from an angled position on the right.

Town, who had been beaten only once previously at home this season and had won their last seven league games, made a great start to the second half.

They pulled a goal back in the 47th minute through Dominic Gamble, who scored his first goal of the season with a well-placed header from the edge of the six-yard box following a right-sided free kick from Andy Swalwell.

Substitute David Onions had a golden opportunity for Town in the 77th minute when he was put clear by a superb forward pass from Colligan, but with only Dowell to beat, he completely mis-kicked in front of goal, allowing the keeper to make an easy save.

Town applied late pressure as they laid siege to the Blue Star area, but they ran out of time and the visitors emerged 2-1 winners.

Northallerton visit bottom club Willington tomorrow and on Monday they travel to Newcastle Blue Star in the Craven Cup. Their next home game is on Saturday, March 26 when fourth-placed West Allotment Celtic are the visitors.