Washington 1

Northallerton Town 1

NORTHALLERTON dropped two valuable points after they failed to take advantage when Washington were reduced to ten men for the entire second half.

With only nine points separating 16 clubs in Division Two, a victory would have put Town only four points behind joint leaders Ashington and Willington with games in hand.

The home side created the first chance in the second minute when Paul Robinson fired wide of the near post after latching onto a free kick from Ian Metcalf.

Town replied in the fourth minute with a Richard Booth header, from a right wing cross by Russ Edwards, which went narrowly over the bar.

Washington, who are fifth in the league, missed a great chance in the tenth minute when Gary Steadman played a deep left wing cross to the far post where the unmarked Lee O'Donovan hit a first-time volley wide of the far post.

But Town hit back to take the lead in the 16th minute through Richard Booth. His 15-yard drive took a slight deflection past stranded keeper Steve Tierney following Paul Wratten's right wing corner.

End to end play followed and Town had an amazing escape in the 30th minute. Following Steadman's left wing corner, first Ed Daly and then Russ Edwards cleared off the line after close range shots from Robinson and Reay.

Town began to get the upper hand and were unlucky in the 37th minute when a Wratten free kick from the left was fired against the foot of the post by the unfortunate Booth.

Four minutes later, Tierney made a brilliant save as he tipped a direct free kick by Wratten over the bar and from the resulting right wing corner Paul O'Brien went close with a header just wide of the post.

But Town were caught on the break in the 44th minute as O'Donovan broke quickly down the right and played a perfect cross to the unmarked Steve Burns, who left Darren Poole helpless with a powerful header.

Home keeper Tierney kept his side in it in first half stoppage time when he went full length to keep out a stunning drive from Booth, who then did well to set up Edwards, but he fired wide from a good position in front of goal.

Right on the half time whistle Washington were reduced to ten men when defender Ian Metcalf was red-carded for swearing.

Town made a promising start to the second half as Dave McKinlay out-jumped the home defence, but his header from Wratten's right wing corner lacked power and Tierney saved easily.

Washington briefly rallied as they made a quick break down the right through Steadman. He crossed to Robinson, who stabbed the ball over the bar.

But Town regained the momentum as O'Brien made a good run through the middle before releasing the ball to leading scorer Andy Brown, who fired just wide. Then Edwards had a great chance but also fired wide.

Washington almost grabbed the winner in the last minute when substitute John Kelly fired just wide following a free kick on the edge of the area.

Northallerton's scheduled game at Penrith on Tuesday night was postponed.

Town are at home to Willington tomorrow, kick off 3pm.

l Northallerton Juniors moved clear of their nearest rivals at the top of the U13s league after winning an exciting, end-to-end match at Barnard Castle.

Northallerton were 2-0 down at half time, fought back to lead 3-2 and were then pegged back again. Three well-worked goals finally secured a hard-earned 6-5 victory.

The Northallerton scorers were Paul Humphreys with a hat-trick, Eddie Craven, Andy Anderson and Shaun Cornfoot, who was their man of the match.

In the U11s League Cup quarter-final, Northallerton beat Barnard Castle 4-3 with a Sam Grainger hat-trick and one from Jonathan Allison. Nathan Pratt was their man of the match