NORTHALLERTON TOWN 3 THORNABY 2
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium
TOWN remain in second place in Ebac Northern League Division Two after completing half of their league fixtures with a hard-fought victory over Thornaby at the Calvert Stadium on Saturday.
Having lost twice in the previous seven days, Town could ill-afford another defeat against the struggling visitors but things appeared to be going against them again when former Town man Craig Winter headed Thornaby ahead.
However, Town showed great character to fight back and lead at the break thanks to quick-fire strikes from Christian Holliday and Darren Kokes. Colin Anderson then headed a spectacular third in the final quarter of an hour, and although David Wells immediately reduced the arrears for Thornaby, Town hung on for the win.
"I was pleased with the performance," said Town boss Peter Mulcaster at the whistle. "To be fair I think every player out there on the pitch deserves a medal because of the conditions which were absolutely atrocious.
"Thornaby scored first and played quite well but we got back into it and when we got the third goal I thought we would go on from there. But as is the norm for us, we gave a daft goal away and they had a few chances but we hung on."
Mulcaster was forced into two changes from the side that was unlucky to be beaten at West Allotment in midweek. Steve Banks was missing for the first time this season due to a back injury so his place in the back four was taken by Danny Shoulder, while Dale Elgie returned in midfield in place of Danny McLachlan who dropped down to the bench.
Town had won the corresponding fixture here last season 7-1 and a similar score-line may well have been on the cards had an early strike from Anderson not been disallowed for offside. But after a fast start from Mulcaster's men, it was the visitors that slowly began to get a foothold in the game.
Christopher Burton, who was looking dangerous down the Thornaby right, brought a smart save from Town goalkeeper Alex Kell in the 16th minute before Kell was then forced to race from his line to deny Bradley Wright.
But the goal they had been threatening duly arrived just past the half-hour mark. It is an odd statistic in football that players often score against their former team-mates so it was no real surprise when ex-Town defender Winter headed home from close range after a cross from Lee Bythway was nodded back across goal by Ian Bishop.
But in worsening conditions, Town turned the match on it's head with two goals in two minutes just before the break. Holliday equalised in the 43rd minute with a repeat of his fine header from the previous Saturday at Stokesley - this time getting on the end of a fine cross from the right from Anderson to beat goalkeeper Michael Duff from 10 yards -Town's 50th league goal of the season.
Then, in first half stoppage time, Kokes fired past Duff from 15 yards following a good work from Holliday and Gav Parkin on the edge of the penalty area.
Much of the second half was played in strong wind and driving rain which made good football difficult for both sides but Town looked to have sealed the points with sixteen minutes remaining. Skipper Parkin delivered another superb free kick delivery from the left and Anderson dived full-length to power a header beyond Duff.
However, straight from the restart Thornaby reduced the arrears. The Town defence stood off Wells as he approached the penalty area and he made them pay the ultimate price with a low shot past Kell from 20 yards to set up a grandstand finale.
Neil Radigan's visitors from Teesside now sensed a comeback and Wright fired over the top before Bishop fizzed a shot just past Kell's left-hand post. But Town could have sealed the points on the break in the dying moments. Anderson hit the post with a fine effort while McLachlan then somehow headed the rebound wide from close range.
But it did not matter in the end as the whistle blew seconds later to signal a very important three points for Mulcaster's men.
"We said before the game that we did not want to lose three on the trot," said the Town boss. "We know we are not going to win every game but had we lost today people would have wondered what was going on.
"Our home form has been very good. We haven't always played well but I thought we did here against a good Thornaby side."
With next Saturday's league trip to leaders Heaton Stannington postponed, Town now face a rearranged North Riding Senior Cup tie against Wearside League outfit Redcar Athletic at the Calvert Stadium. Kick is at 3pm.
TOWN - Kell, Porritt, Howlett, Hickman, Shoulder, Parkin, Anderson, Elgie, Kokes, Huscroft, Holliday. SUBS - Stevens, Caygill, McLachlan, Colman.
THORNABY - Duff, Wright, Morrison, Bishop, Winter, Wilson, Burton, Bythway, Melvin, Murphy, Wells. SUBS - Johnson, Blyth, Simcox, England, James.
REFEREE - P. Charnock.
ATTENDANCE: 86
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