With a raft of regulars unavailable, the manager named an unfamiliar squad containing several new signings, and some of his more established players found themselves playing in different positions.

So perhaps it was unsurprising that Town put in a disjointed first-half performance at Morpeth Town’s Craik Park ground, which West Allotment are using this season while their home ground is redeveloped.

The home side made the most of the faster 4G surface in the early stages and took the lead on 26 minutes through Keros Lizinde, who was a handful for the Town defence all match. The centre-forward took advantage of a quick counter-attack to beat ‘keeper Preston Leech.

Northallerton’s best hope at this stage was winger Jack Stapley, who had a shot charged down following a lovely long ball from Jonny Haase and then put another effort over the bar. Midfielder Joe Kitching planted a free-kick narrowly over the top, but the visitors hardly registered as an attacking force in the opening period.

Manager Newall brought on four second-half substitutes and tweaked his formation to create a stronger attacking overload on the flanks. The changes worked, with home ‘keeper Dan Gladstone punching clear from an in-swinging Jonny Haase corner and Kitching having another free-kick beaten away.

The equaliser came in the 88th minute from another good delivery by Haase. Croft met it beautifully to score his first headed goal for Northallerton – what a talisman he is for Northallerton.

So the sides must meet again at the Calvert Stadium, with a home tie against Kendal the reward for the victors.

West Allotment Celtic: Gladstone, Turnbull, Salmon, Mullen, Grant, Nicholson, Potter (Hutchinson 77), Laidler (Taylor 72), Lizinde, McIntyre (Nzonza 90), Mitchell.

Subs not used: Slater, Milligan, Cairns.

Northallerton Town: Leech, Tew (Croft 80), Cocks (Brown 46), Haase, Allen, Dale, Stapley, Kitching, Sayer, Wilkinson, Harker (Ugidan 46).

Sub not used: Crowle.

Man of the Match: Ben Dale.

Att: 76.