Northallerton Town 2 Jarrow Roofing 2

AS A contest, Northallerton Town should have had this game sewn up after just 15 minutes, but poor finishing let them down, and they were made to pay as the league's basement club, and already relegated Jarrow Roofing, scored a dramatic injury time equaliser with virtually the last kick of the game.

Although a point has lifted Town out of the bottom three, manager Andy Toman was bitterly disappointed with the result after his young charges had made a great start to the game, and they threatened to run up a cricket score, but Jarrow played above themselves as the game wore on and they thoroughly deserved to go away with a point.

Town got off to the best possible start as they attacked from the kick-off and, after going close in the third minute through Anthony Hume who was clear through on goal but hit his low shot wide of the post, they took the lead in the fifth minute when, in a scramble in the Jarrow area following a Robbie Bettson left wing corner, Danny Earl was on hand to record his 11th goal of the season with a close range tap-in.

A minute later and Town went further ahead through recent signing Josh DeSilva, who scored his third goal in as many games as he took full advantage of a poor kick out by visiting keeper Adam Dowell, to hit a great 25-yard first-time volley into the back of the unguarded net.

Then, in the eighth minute, Stuart Dixon had a great chance to increase Town's lead but, from a good position in front of goal, he fired high over the bar.

Two minutes later, Hume should have done better when he was clear through on goal with only the keeper to beat, but he hit a poor shot that Dowell easily saved.

Bettson was denied a third goal for Town in the 15th minute when he hit a superb 20-yard free kick, which was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Dowell.

Jarrow, who by now should have been dead and buried, came more into it as the half progressed and they pulled a goal back in the 25th minute through Richard Logan who, after collecting the ball in the centre circle following some sloppy play as Town lost possession, made a good run into the area before hitting a wellplaced shot wide of keeper Kevin Wolfe.

Logan almost added a second in the 35th minute with a great swerving 20-yard drive that was well dealt with by Wolfe as he tipped the ball over the bar.

Town completely lost their way in the second period as the visitors grew in confidence and the longer the game went on they looked the more likely side to score.

The nearest Town came to scoring was in the 60th minute when a Bettson 25-yard free kick went inches over the bar.

With ten minutes to go, manager Toman brought himself on to give some much needed experience to his defence, but his efforts were in vain as Jarrow got a last-gasp equaliser through substitute Stuart Thompson who hit a curling shot past the diving Wolfe.

Town are away tomorrow when they travel to Billingham Synthonia, and on Tuesday they are away to Morpeth Town.

Their next home game is on Saturday, April 19, when Ashington are the visitors, then on Tuesday, April 22, they play their final game of the season when they travel to Newcastle Benfield BP.

At the other end of the table, Durham City were crowned as league champions after Whitley Bay failed to beat Tow Law Town on Tuesday night.