Northallerton Town 7 Willington 1

NORTHALLERTON Town manager Paul Burton introduced new signing Ian Williams to the bench for last Saturday's division two fixture against bottom side Willington.

Full back Williams, signed earlier in the week from first division Billingham Synthonia, is a former Whitby Town player who played in the final of the FA Vase when The Seasiders won the trophy at Wembley in 1997.

On the outgoing side, Burton has released striker John Outhwaite, who has been signed by division two rivals Norton & Stockton Ancients.

Goalkeeper Darren Poole has been allowed to return to Richmond Town and striker Peter Boldison has returned to play in the Teesside League, although the club still hold their Northern League registrations.

For the first 40 minutes of this encounter Willington, managed by former Middlesbrough and Sunderland star Stan Cummins, more than held their own against fifth-placed Town.

In fact the visitors were a little unfortunate not to have taken an early lead, but once Town had gone in front there was little doubt that they would go on to win the game.

Northallerton made a positive start to the game and went close to taking the lead in the fourth minute through Stephen Cochrane, who fired just wide of the near post with a low drive.

But the visitors hit back and they were desperately unlucky in the sixth minute when a low shot from James Seymore beat keeper Sam Dobbs, but crashed against the foot of the post.

In the 24th minute, a close-range header from Shaun Nicholson, following a ball into the area from John Richardson, was well saved by Dobbs.

Town gradually got on top and they took the lead in the 40th minute. Central defender Stuart Jackson forced the ball home from close range after he was first to react when a Ross Foreman effort, following a right-wing cross from Simon Collinghan, was spilled by Willington keeper Peter Coe.

Two minutes later Town went two up following a great move started deep in his own half by Jackson, who played the ball to Cochrane. He released Micky Waller, who made a strong run into the visitors' half, beating three defenders before playing the ball out to Collinghan on the right.

Collinghan then played a perfect ball in to Ross Diamond, who made no mistake as he beat keeper Coe with a neat flick from six yards.

It was one-way traffic in the second half as Town attacked from the kick-off. They increased their lead in the 54th minute through Cochrane, who scored with a 20-yard drive which caught Coe wrong-footed.

Six minutes later they added to their tally when Willington defender Darren Griffiths handled in the area, Diamond scoring his second as he blasted home from the penalty spot.

The fifth goal came in the 62nd minute from Craig Winter, who leapt high above the Willington defence to powerfully head home from a Collinghan right-wing corner.

Town created further chances through Foreman, who was just off target with a header, Andrew Swalwell, who crashed a 15-yard drive against the bar, and Foreman again, who saw his close-range effort cleared off the line.

But the sixth goal duly arrived and it was a hat-trick for Diamond, who scored with a simple tap-in from close range.

Ex-Town player Ian Robinson scored a consolation goal for Willington in the 82nd minute when he rounded Dobbs after intercepting a wayward back pass.

Town hit back and they almost increased their lead in the 83rd minute when Cochrane hit the bar with a great 20-yard drive. Two minutes later, Diamond almost scored his fourth with a 25-yard drive which crashed against the post.

Town completed the scoring in injury time through Foreman, who slotted home from inside the six-yard box following a left-wing cross from Matthew Cook.

The win has lifted Town to fourth in the division two table with 23 points from 13 games. Prudhoe Town are the leaders with 35 points from 13 games, second are Washington Nissan with 29 from 12, third are West Allotment Celtic with 29 from 14, fifth are Penrith with 21 from 13 and sixth are Washington with 21 from 12.

Town have a tough away game tomorrow when they travel to third-placed West Allotment Celtic. Their next home game is on Saturday, November 20, when Hebburn are the visitors, kick-off 3pm.