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Wednesday 12 March 2014

Promotion over as late collpase sees Town beaten by Lawyers

TOW LAW TOWN 3 NORTHALLERTON TOWN 1
By Ricky Butler at Ironworks Road

Highlights of this match are available here

NORTHALLERTON TOWN'S fading promotion hopes were finally brought to an end on Tuesday evening as a late collapse at Ironworks Road saw them come away from Tow Law empty-handed.

Peter Mulcaster's side had looked in control as substitute Chris Burton's wonderful strike had put them in front, but a penalty from Dan Wilson and a strike from Town nemesis Adam Pinkney quickly turned the match in the Lawyers favour. Then in the final minute, with Town desperately seeking an equaliser, Wilson sealed the points on the break.

Mulcaster could not hide his disappointment at the whistle. He said: "I am angry, I am disappointed, but at the end of the day we have lost 3-1.

"For 75 minutes we were in complete control of the game. They never bothered us all night. But then they get a penalty and from that moment there was only one winner. We just totally lost it."

Mulcaster was forced into two changes from Saturday's battling draw with Jarrow Roofing. Grant Hickman was unavailable so James Howlett, suspended at the weekend, returned to the back four. Meanwhile, in-form striker Graham Caygill was out injured so Darren Kokes partnered Martin Butterworth in an attack that has found goals hard to come by in recent weeks.

As has been the case over the last few matches, the first half was a tight, cagey affair. On a ground where they had not won in the league since 1997, Town started reasonably well but created just one or two half chances.

Kokes, Butterworth and Howlett all came close in the opening half an hour before Dale Elgie, who had scored on Saturday, had the ball in the net again - heading home Gav Parkin's left-wing cross. But the referee's assistant on the far side had already raised his flag for offside.

Mulcaster was forced into an early change when Michael Gunnell, again impressive down the left, hobbled off with an ankle injury so Burton was brought on to replace him. And what an impact the substitute made.

Fifteen minutes of the second half had elapsed when the former Thornaby man grabbed his second Town goal. Butterworth's flick was sublime but the finish was even better - Burton hitting a first time volley into the far corner of the net from 15 yards.

But from a position of almost complete control, Town somehow contrived to throw away the game. The turning point arrived just 12 minutes after the goal. Howlett's slip on the edge of the penalty area allowed Wilson a rare opportunity to get in behind the Town back line.

Craig Perry, who had not put a foot wrong up until that point, produced a clumsy challenge on the Lawyers front man and referee Andy Cook immediately pointed to the spot. Wilson himself got up to take the kick and just managed to squeeze the ball past Town goalkeeper Ryan Hodgson.

Mulcaster said: "Young Ryan went down and got to the ball with his left hand but spooned it into the net. If that hadn't gone in, you never know."

But things were about a whole lot worse. Pinkney, who had already scored four times against Town this season for Willington, proved to be their undoing again; beating Hodgson from 12 yards after a cross from Michael Hall had been headed down by Scott Thompson.

Mulcaster threw on Colin Anderson, absent from the previous two matches with an Achilles injury and still nowhere near 100% fit, and he nearly created the equaliser 12 minutes from time. The winger's fine cross from the right was perfect for the late-arriving Elgie and his header was destined for the top right-hand corner of the net had it not been for a remarkable save from Lawyers goalkeeper Joe Longstaff.

It did not appear to be Town's night when just four minutes later Longstaff pushed out a powerful drive from Anderson and Danny McLachlan was unable to force home the rebound from a tight angle.

That proved to be Town's last chance of salvaging something from what was fast becoming a frustrating evening. Pinkney was denied a second by a great save from Hodgson but Tow Law did add a third in stoppage time. Wilson's shot appeared to lack the necessary power to beat the Town goalkeeper but he completely misjudged the ball and it rolled agonisingly over the line.

"We were absolutely coasting," said Mulcaster. "I can't believe that it just changed. It was like someone had just turned the lights out and we were in the dark.

"Let's not kid ourselves. The top three will come from the top four teams in the league. We can't compete with them and I've made no secret of that fact. I said at the start of the season, my aim was to finish sixth or above and that is still the aim."

Town are back on the road again on Saturday with a trip to Washington.

TOW LAW TOWN  - Longstaff, Ryder, Hall, Hendserson, Kelly, Ord, Wilson(A), Pinkney, Lee, Wilson(D), Parkinson. SUBS - Brassell, Thompson, McVickers.

TOWN - Hodgson - Will be disappointed with the third goal but was unlucky with the penalty and made a great late save to deny Pinkney. 7/10

Porritt - The birthday boy was unable to celebrate as he would have liked after a disappointing final 20 minutes. 7/10

Hemingway - Another solid if unspectacular performance from the left back. 7/10

Perry - Was possibly Town's best player for 70 minutes but then gave away the penalty and looked shaky thereafter. 7/10

Howlett - Back from suspension and it was like he had never been away until he suffered along with his team mates in the final quarter of an hour. 7/10

Elgie - Has started to add a real goal threat with his well-timed third-man runs into the area. Was unfortunate not to score with two fine headers and showed great composure in the middle of the park. Man of match. 8/10

McLachlan - Came close to grabbing a late equaliser which his hard-working display would have merited. 7/10

Parkin - Once again gave a captain's display in the middle of the park. 8/10

Kokes - Back in the starting XI in his preferred position but was unable to break his goal drought. 7/10

Butterworth - Created the goal with a wonderful touch and was Town's brightest forward player. 8/10

Gunnell - Impressed down the left again but was forced off before the break with an ankle injury. 7/10

SUBS - Burton - Took his goal really well and worked hard after replacing the unfortunate Gunnell. 7/10

Anderson -  Still not fit but almost dragged Town level with two typical pieces of quality. 8/10

UNUSED - Stevens, Colman.

REFEREE - A. Cook

ATTENDANCE: 50

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