Town promotion hopes in the balance as Roofing finish on top

NORTHALLERTON TOWN 0 JARROW ROOFING 4

TOWN'S promotion hopes were left hanging by a thread as third-placed Jarrow Roofing left the RGPS with all three points on Wednesday evening.

In a match that Town could ill-afford to lose, Mark Fanning's side never recovered from the loss of an early goal by Mike Carson as Jarrow ran out comfortable winners in the end.

Starting the night nine points behind their visitors, Town knew a win here and in the return at Jarrow next month would put them right in the mix for a top-three finish and automatic promotion, but it was the Roofers who took a giant step closer an instant return to Division One.

Fanning's side showed two changes to the side that had lost to Billingham Synthonia in the League Cup a week earlier - Craig Winter and Michael Dunwell coming in for Grant Hickman and Colin Anderson.

But despite a bright start from Town, it was Roofing who went in front after 17 minutes when Carson scored directly from a corner, aided by a slip at the near post Marcus Laing which deceived goalkeeper James Briggs.

Town responded and could have been level by the break as Carl Chillingsworth headed wide before Dunwell fired into the side netting.

But the second half could not have got off to a worse start for Fanning's side as Anth Myers doubled the Roofing advantage within five minutes of the restart.

Town needed something quickly and Winter almost provided it with a header that landed on the roof of the net, but it was the visitors who sealed the points when Liam McBryde finished off a sweeping move twelve minutes from time.

And Town's misery was completed in the 87th minute when Darren Reay headed home a corner to make the final score 4-0.

"After good performances against Ryhope and Billingham in recent weeks, this was disappointing," said assistant manager Martin Collins. "But credit must go to Jarrow who are one of the best teams to have visited Ainderby Road this season."

After Saturday's home match against Whitehaven was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, Town are next in action on Tuesday evening with the first of two trips in a week to Chester-Le-Street, sandwiched between a trip to Washington next Saturday.

TOWN - Briggs, Alderson, Smurthwaite, Winter, Banks, Parkin, Laing, Butterworth, Bowman, Chillingsworth, Dunwell. Subs - Hickman, Caisley, Anderson, Dickinson.

REFEREE: S. Moran.

ATTENDANCE: 97