NORTH PREM LG
DUNSTON UTS moved into third place in the East Division table as they saw off fellow play-off contenders Pontefract Collieries at the UTS Stadium.
David Robinson opened the scoring three minutes into first-half injury time with a stunning longrange effort and the midfielder secured the points when he found the net two minutes from time.
Speaking after the game, Dunston boss Jon McDonald said: “It was a well-contested game between two good teams - although I felt we showed real quality in key moments of the game.
“We will enjoy ourselves tonight but full focus is already on Wednesday’s home game with Sheffield.”
Stockton Town moved eight points clear at the top of the table with a 2-0 home win against former Northern League rivals Ashington.
The Anchors opened the scoring with seven minutes on the clock when former Dunston UTS striker Michael Fowler scored his 13th goal of the season.
Both sides had chances to add to the scoring throughout a hardfought affair but it was Stockton midfielder Tom Portas who ended
any doubt over the result when he scored nine minutes from time.
There was disappointment for Consett as their play-off hopes took a further blow with a 3-1 defeat at Ossett United.
Gibraltar international Adam Priestley led the way for the hosts as his hat-trick took the game out of the Steelmen’s reach by the time Kieren Aplin grabbed a consolation 14 minutes from time.
Morpeth Town moved to within two points of the top half of the Premier Division table with a 3-0 home win against FC United of Manchester.
The Highwaymen had taken just
one point from their last five games but they showed signs of a reinvigorated attitude in the opening stages as they took the game to their hosts.
A breakthrough arrived on 19 minutes when on-loan South Shields striker Sam Hodgson scored from the penalty spot before doubling his tally and his side’s lead in the same manner seven minutes before the interval.
Middlesbrough youngster Fenton John scored the second goal of his loan spell from the Championship club nine minutes into the secondhalf to help round off a fine performance from the Highwaymen.