BRANDON UNITED 0 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 1
By Ricky Butler at Welfare Park
Highlights of this match are available here
A SUPERB second half goal from Graham Caygill on Saturday, his 3rd of the week, gave Town a very hard fought but important victory at Brandon United.
There had been very little to choose between the sides for much of this scrappy encounter played on a difficult pitch, but Caygill scored a goal of real quality 20 minutes from time to give Peter Mulcaster's side a second away win in five days.
Mulcaster said: "Brandon had a good result in midweek against North Shields so they were cock-a-hoop and they made us work hard. We didn't really get out of second gear which we are disappointed with really. But a win's a win."
The Town boss was able to name the same side that had played so well at Birtley in midweek, giving a second start to on-loan Horden goalkeeper Steven Hubery, while Caygill was looking to continue his good goalscoring form.
But Town were slow out of the blocks in a very low-key first half. In fact the most interesting aspect of the opening 45 minutes was a freak hail-storm that took everyone by surprise.
Neither side was able to fashion many chances and in fact the only one of real note did not arrived until eight minutes before the break when Colin Anderson's shot was easily saved by Brandon goalkeeper Chris Sawyer.
But Town began to turn the screw after the restart. Grant Hickman saw a header tipped over the bar by Sawyer before skipper Gav Parkin and Anderson again both came close.
And the pressure finally paid off 20 minutes from time. Dale Elgie played a lovely ball through to Caygill in the inside right position and he held off defender Mark Ferguson before chipping the ball over the stranded Sawyer from 20 yards.
But instead of pushing on from there, Town seemed happy to sit back and invite Brandon onto them. With the lively Andrew Blackburn looking dangerous down the right, the hosts almost salvaged a point in the closing stages.
Substitute Mark Bischuk perhaps should have done better with a close range effort flew wide of the right-hand upright, while Hubery then produced a great save to touch a Blackburn effort onto the post as Town held on.
Mulcaster said: "Graham [Caygill] scored a great goal again but we were not clinical enough. We had two bad results which we know about, and now we have had two good results. The performances could have been better but its results that matter.
It has been a very, very good week for us and we'll see what happens on Tuesday night [at Whitehaven]."
BRANDON UNITED - Sawyer, Wilson (S), Ferguson, Wilson (A), Hilder, Davidson, Harrison (D), Cocks, Harrison (J), Heckles, Blackburn. SUBS -Peterkin, Hird, Watson, Briscuk, Paylor.
TOWN - Huberry - Another solid display from the on-loan goalkeeper. Made a great late save and can be delighted with his contribution over the last two games. 8/10
Porritt - Played a full part in what was a very strong defensive display. 7/10
Hemingway - Found the tricky Blackburn a real handful but stuck to the task well. 7/10
Howlett - Hardly put a foot wrong. Again. Playing as well as anyone in a Town shirt at the moment. 8/10
Hickman - Strong at the back as usual and unlucky not to score with a second half header. 8/10
Elgie - Found the bobbly pitch difficult at times but created the goal with a beautiful pass. 7/10
Anderson - A quiet game for the enigmatic winger. Came close on a couple of occasions but nowhere near his best. 7/10
Parkin - Drove the team on looking for the breakthrough and must have covered every blade of grass. 8/10
Butterworth - Linked well with Caygill and worked hard but the ball is just not falling for him since his return to the club. 7/10
Caygill - In such a tight encounter his moment of magic proved decisive. Man of the match. 9/10
Kokes - Put in a good shift down the left even if it is not a position that comes naturally to him. 7/10
SUBS - McLachlan - Replaced Anderson down the right but did not have enough time to really make an impact. 6/10
Burton - Another late introduction, although he twice came close to sealing the points in the closing stages. 6/10
REFEREE - K. Beckett
ATTENDANCE: 54
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