Braces help Billingham stay on top
3 3 BILLINGHAM Town strengthened their position at the top of the Division Two table with a 4-2 win at Easington Colliery.
First-half braces from Luke Hogan and Craig Hutchinson gave Town a four-goal lead at half-time after a dominant display in the opening 45 minutes.
Connor Short reduced the arrears on 52 minutes and Liam Cook got the Colliers’ second goal in the last 10 minutes.
Chester-le-Street Town continued to apply the pressure at the top as they came from behind to beat Redcar Athletic.
The Teesside outfit took the lead midway through the firsthalf with a goal from David Abel but Joe Hailes marked his return to Moor Park with an equaliser four minutes before the interval.
Jack Oliver put the Cestrians ahead just after the hourand that was enough to keep them just a point behind the leaders.
Thornaby remain in thirdafter goals from Kurtis Howes and Paul Roddam gave them a 2-0 home win over Crook Town.
A 3-2 home win against Birtley Town was enough to keep Northallerton Town on the coattails of the top three.
Goals from Kerry Hedley, Nick Martin and Chris Emms gave the hosts a three-goal halftime lead and they took all three points, despite Birtley producing a spirited secondhalf fightback.
Joe Barwick and Matty Soulsby found the target to give the Hoops some hope but Northallerton held on to seal another win.
Heaton Stannington’s form continues to impress as they won by the odd goal in five against Tow Law Town.
A brace from the in-form Connor Campbell and a Dan Robinson goal put the Stan in control against the Lawyers.
Dan Kirkup got one back for the visitors and Trae Rowlandson made the Stan sweat with an injury-time goal, but it was too little, too late.
A Matty Moffat brace eased Willington to a 2-0 home win against West Allotment Celtic and an injury-time penalty from Craig Hennis helped Washington to a valuable win at Brandon United.
Early goals from Kris Goss and Jak Hanson put the Mechanics in control but Brandon were back level by halftime as Jordan Lee and Jack Carr found the target.
The two sides looked set for a share of the spoils until Hennis stepped up in injury-time to coolly slot home a penalty and help his side move further away from the lower reaches of the Division Two table.