Northern League: Easington end long wait for victory in five-goal Brandon thriller

Whitley Bay keeper Tom Flynn gathers against Seaham Red Star on Saturday. Picture by Tim Richardson

James Talbot gave Easington the lead with a well-taken lob from an acute angle and soon doubled their lead when David Vincent was fouled and Ethan Wood cleverly curled his free-kick into the top corner.

United fought back with a goal from ex-Easington striker Jack Pounder, and they were denied an equaliser by a tremendous Kyle Donaldson save.

Liam Adamson restored the visitors’ two-goal advantage after rounding the keeper in the 80th minute. Aaron Jackson hit a second for Brandon, but Easington held firm for the victory.

Chester-le-Street dropped a place to second-bottom spot after going down 4-2 at third-placed Northallerton Town.

Nicky Martin fired the hosts in front on 29 minutes, but the Cestrians quickly equalised, when Andrew Clarkson finished well as he beat goalkeeper Tom Dawson.

Colin Anderson restored Town’s lead, when he stabbed the ball home from a corner, and Aaron Ramsbottom unleashed a piledriver past goalkeeper Jack Wilson for 3-1.

Clarkson pulled one back with his second goal of the match, but Stephen Cheeseman put the game to bed, bundling home a fourth in the 86th minute.

Struggling Durham City lost 2-0 at home to Whickham, who moved into fourth position.

Steven Aiston, just before half-time, and Ross Nicholson, in the last minute, did the damage.

Esh Winning secured a 3-1 victory over Ryton & Crawcrook Albion after falling behind to Anthony Brown’s strike.

Daniel Kent, Matthew Allison and Daniel Mann came up trumps to see Esh home.

Billingham Town beat West Allotment Celtic 3-0 to go seventh, thanks to two-goal Ashley Lavan and Gary Redman.

Darlington RA moved up two places to third-bottom spot with an excellent 1-0 home victory over fifth-top Blyth Town, with Dominic Joynes netting in first-half injury time.

Thornaby are up to eighth after a narrow 2-1 win at home to Bedlington Terriers, who led through Paul Kane. Lewis Murphy and Kallum Hannah (penalty) turned it around.

Sixth-placed Heaton Stannington won 6-2 at bottom club Alnwick Town.

Dan Thompson and Philip Bright replied to efforts from Dan Robinson (2), Adam Laidler, Ethan Tait, Jake Turnbull and Lee Johnson.