Northern League: Pounder punishes City as Easington Colliery finish campaign with third successive victory

Jarrow Roofing (blue) take on Stockton Town at Boldon on Saturday. Picture by Tim Richardson

The Colliers were down to just 13 men for their final-day visit to face Durham City at Willington, but prolific marksman Jack Pounder came up trumps to secure all three points in a narrow 1-0 win.

Liam Cooke worked an opening for Easington, rounding keeper Dean Caris but missing out for a tight angle.

Caris made a fine stop to keep out a strike from Liam Adamson, while City went close when Craig Hennis’s deflected effort hit the post.

The only goal came five minutes into the second half, Pounder heading home an inch-perfect cross.

City had Chris Pattinson sent off after a clash with Cooke, who then shot just wide.

Durham could have forced an equaliser, but Daniel Knowd and Callum Smith could not beat Kyle Donaldson as Easington secured the win which guarantees a 10th-place finish.

City complete their season at home to Tow Law today (11am kick-off).

Chester-le-Street succumbed 2-1 at home to Heaton Stannington.

The Cestrians took the lead on 58 minutes through Daniel McGuire, but Heaton struck back with an equaliser from Jonathan Wright and a winner in the last minute from Joseph Wear.

Blyth clinched the championship with a 4-0 success at Tow Law Town.

Michael Chilton netted on 33 minutes and doubled the lead with a 55th-minute penalty before efforts from Robert Taylor and David Robinson sparked the championship celebrations.

The other two promotion spots will be decided today, with one point separating Hebburn Town, Northallerton Town and Whickham. The Glebe side are a point behind the other two.

Hebburn Town climbed to second place thanks to a convincing 4-0 success at Darlington RA.

Paul Chow got them off to the perfect start, coolly scoring in the first minute. Gary Shaw made it 2-0 from a tight angle after half-time and further goals from subs Chris Douglas and Channon North, in a goalmouth scramble, completed the scoring.

Northallerton rose to third place after outgunning Willington 4-1.

Nicky Martin gave the home side the lead, but Nathan Plews equalised.

Martin scored his second to put Northallerton in front, then Chris Dickinson and an own goal made it 4-1.

Today, Hebburn and Northallerton will be promoted if they beat Chester-le-Street and Thornaby respectively today. Whickham, at home to Heaton Stannington, need a setback for one of their two rivals.

Third-bottom Brandon United finished off in style, beating Bedlington Terriers by 4-0.

Chris Spence, a penalty from Craig Ruddy and Warren Byrne’s brace did the damage.

Billingham Town hammered bottom club Alnwick Town 9-1.

Jason Blackburn, who opened the scoring in the sixth minute, scored four of the goals, netting in the 22nd, 67th and 70th minutes.

Ashley Lavan, though, topped that with a five-goal haul, notching in the 35th, 38th, 73rd, 87th and 90th minutes, with Tony Brown firing the visitors’ consolation.

Esh Winning and Crook Town shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

Christian Holliday put the visitors in front, after 29 minutes, but a late equaliser from Matthew Soulsby rescued a point for the home side.

Jarrow lost 2-0 at Thornaby, who moved above Willington to seal a sixth-place finish.

Both goals came in the last six minutes. Jordan Wilson put the Teessiders ahead on 84 minutes, with Lewis Murphy adding the second, three minutes later.