Hornets top table after victory at Whitley Bay
H ebb u r n To w n m a n a ge r Kevin Bolam praised his players for keeping it clean in their 4-0 win at Whitley Bay.
The Hornets moved back to the top of the Division One table as goals from Graeme Armstrong, Cedwyn Scott and Karl Taylor all helped them to a comfortable win at Hillheads after an own-goal from Bay defender Scott Lowery had opened the scoring.
The win also means that Bolam’s side have taken maximum points from their three league fixtures since they fell to a 3-2 defeat at North Shields in late September.
Despite his players being in fine goalscoring form, the Hornets boss hailed his defensive players for keeping a fifth clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions.
He told The Echo: “It’s another three points and another clean sheet for the lads. Keeping clean sheets are massive for us because any side that does well in this league has to have a good defensive record.
“We n e e d to b e wate r - tight at the back and there is a desire from our defence and goalkeeper to keep clean sheets. We didn’t have that last season, but there is pride from the entire side in doing that now.”
Stockton Town prepared for Tuesday night’s meeting with Bolam’s side with a comprehensive home win against Consett.
The two sides went into half-time on level-terms as Steelmen defender Nick Allen cancelled out an opening goal from Anchors midfielder Shane Henry. But it was Michael Dunwell’s side that took the points thanks to second half goals from Jonathan Franks, Adam Nicholson and Nathan Mulligan.