League Challenge Cup

Whitley Bay 4

Northallerton Town 3

NORTHALLERTON Town were unfortunate to go out of the Northern League Challenge Cup after putting on a brilliant display at Hillshead against First Division high-fliers Whitley Bay.

The home side applied the early pressure and Town's Andy Brown did well in the first minute when he cleared a dangerous through ball at the expense of a corner.

But Town soon settled and for a period they had the home side on the rack. Richard Booth had two great chances to put them ahead, but inexperience let him down.

In the fifth minute he was clear through on goal, but Bay keeper Adam Clementson was quickly off his line to block the shot with his legs. The loose ball came back to Booth, whose follow up shot was cleared off the line by Mark Cameron.

A minute later Booth had another great chance, but with only Clementson to beat he fired wide from eight yards.

Town continued to press and had another great opportunity to take the lead in the 17th minute when they were awarded a penalty after striker Nash, who was back helping his overworked defence, handled in the area. But Clementson guessed right as he pushed Jock McKinlay's spot kick onto the foot of the post.

Against the run of play Whitley Bay, who were relegated from the Unibond Northern Premier league last season, took the lead when Town defender Andy Thompson was penalised for shirt pulling in the area. Nash made up for his earlier error when he blasted the ball home from the spot.

But Town fought back and deservedly equalised in the 29th minute when Andy McCreesh, who signed from Norton earlier in the week, played in a great low ball from the left wing across the face of the goal and McKinlay ghosted in at the far post to slide the ball home.

Bay regained the lead five minutes before the break as Denis Livermore hit a stunning low shot across keeper Poole and into the far corner.

The home side opened strongly at the start of the second half, but Town's defence, including Paul Wratten who was making his first appearance for the club since being injured almost a year ago, held firm.

Town came close to equalising on 54 minutes when Russ Edwards headed just over the bar. The same player was unlucky three minutes later when his shot rattled the crossbar after a brilliant run took him past three defenders

The visitors continued to press, but were caught on the break in the 64th minute when a downward header from the unmarked David Carr crept into the corner of the net.

Town came storming back and reduced the arrears in the 68th minute when defender Ed Daly met a long free kick down the middle by skipper Lee Wasden and stabbed the ball home via the post.

The underdogs then threw everyone forward and were rewarded with the equaliser in the 76th minute when leading scorer Brown produced the goal of the game, rocketing a first-time volley into the back of the net following Paul Combellack's left wing cross.

Sensing a remarkable victory, Town continued to attack and Brown was inches wide in the 80th minute with another fine volley.

But they were caught cold again as Bay broke quickly two minutes from time. Slack marking cost Town as Bowman crossed from the right and Carr had time to pick his spot with a perfect header.

l In contrast, Northallerton produced one of their worst-ever performances last Saturday as they crashed out of the Carlsberg FA Vase to Barrow-based side Holker Old Boys, from Division Two of the North West Counties League.

Holker took the lead in the 28th minute when Grant Cockerill blasted a low shot into the back of the net from just inside the area.

Waters increased the visitors' lead in the 71st minute with a close range flick after David McKinlay failed to clear a left wing cross from Dixon.

Northallerton's re-arranged home game against Kennek Ryhope CA the previous Wednesday was abandoned after 78 minutes with the visitors leading 3-1.

Town are away at Prudhoe Town tomorrow in a re-arranged league game