Bedlington Terriers 3 Northallerton Town 2

NORTHALLERTON Town remain firmly in the relegation zone after they lost their fourth successive game when they went down by the odd goal in five at Bedlington Terriers on Saturday.

Following their 3-0 defeat at Penrith on Easter Monday, manager Mark Fanning was able to recall leading scorer Carl Chillingsworth and central defender Stuart Jackson, but was still without midfield player Gary Shardha.

Town, who desperately needed three points to lift them out of the bottom three, took the lead in the third minute when recent signing Stephen Allison scored his first goal for the club.

He pounced on a defensive error to take the ball off Bedlington keeper Gareth Powell and slot home from a narrow angle.

But Bedlington replied just five minutes later when Alex Lawson turned Town defender Ian Smurthwaite and beat keeper Paul Clements with a low drive.

Northallerton regained the lead in the 30th minute through Chillingsworth, who scored his 16th goal of the season with a fine 12-yard volley.

But the home side then put the Town defence under tremendous pressure and they drew level in the 40th minute with a fantastic 25- yard free kick from Gareth McAlindon.

Town dominated the opening period of the second half, but Chillingsworth failed to convert two clear chances, shooting just wide in a oneon- one with the keeper and then guiding a free header straight into Powell’s hands.

After absorbing the pressure, Bedlington broke out to score a controversial winner in the 74th minute.

In the build-up to the goal, Scott Bell clearly used a hand to control the ball before setting up Shaun Nicholson, who beat Clements from close range Fanning was clearly annoyed that the goal was allowed to stand, but his protests only brought him a red card from the referee and he was banished to the stand.

With just three games to go, Town are in deep trouble.

They are third from bottom with 29 points from 39 games and it now looks as though three clubs will face relegation.

Tomorrow, fourth-bottom Bishop Auckland, who have 31 points from 39 games, are the visitors.

Town’s final two games are at home against FA Vase finalists Whitley Bay on Wednesday, and then away to Sunderland Nissan on Saturday, May 2.