Washington Nissan secured the third promotion place in division two with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Northallerton Town last Saturday.

It was a game Town, who were playing their final game of the season, had to win if they were to have any chance of promotion themselves, but it all ended in bitter disappointment for Paul Burton's side.

They have ended the season in fifth place behind champions West Allotment Celtic, Newcastle Blue Star, Washington Nissan and Prudhoe Town.

There was little to choose between the two sides in the opening period as both made a positive start, although there were no clear-cut chances.

The first real chance came in the 20th minute when a 30-yard drive from Nissan's John Cullen was well held by home keeper Sam Dobbs.

Town replied through Craig Skelton, who hit a great 20-yard drive which just cleared the bar.

Dominic Gamble then played a neat one-two with Skelton and was unlucky to see his fierce ten-yard drive blocked by the legs of visiting keeper John Caffry.

Although they were having the better of the game, Town were caught out in the 34th minute when Nissan took the lead against the run of play through their leading scorer Gavin Cogdon.

He forced the ball home from the edge of the six-yard box after Dobbs failed to hold a high left-wing cross into the area from Stephen Capper.

Town had a good chance to equalise in the 55th minute through Gamble, but, with only the keeper to beat, he failed to hit the target with a header which went high over the bar.

Any hope Town had of promotion virtually disappeared in the 56th minute when Nissan increased their lead through David Tait.

Left unmarked in the area, he headed home from the edge of the six-yard box following a right-wing corner from Cullen.

Northallerton then had a good ten-minute spell when they created three good chances.

In the 63rd minute a right-wing cross from Micky Waller was met by Anthony Roberts, but his glancing header was deflected just wide of the post.

Then, in the 69th minute, Skelton and Roberts linked up well for Roberts to fire in a great drive from the edge of the area which was saved at the second attempt by Caffry.

Minutes later, John Ryan made a good opening for Gamble, but he fired high over the bar from a good position in front of goal.

But it was the visitors who finished the stronger and their celebrations started in injury time when substitute Anthony Hanson secured their promotion with a simple tap-in after a hesitant Town defence failed to clear a right-wing cross from Capper.