No team has come away from Dean Street with so much as a point this season, such has been the Railwaymen’s perfect record on their new 4G pitch, so Town had realistic expectations before last weekend’s visit.

But they gave their hosts plenty to think about in the torrential rain and would certainly have run them closer had they converted some presentable chances in either half.

Missing the suspended Lee Hume and Kenzie Harker, Town were forced into another reshuffle that saw new signing George Wilkinson make his full debut as a third centre-back and goalkeeper Jacob Crowle return in place of the unavailable Matty Calvert. Top scorer Alistair Banks returned after a thigh injury and there was a second league start for dual-registration winger Matty Kirokiro.

Shildon took the lead after only eight minutes when midfielder Luke Spalding found himself in space on Town’s unguarded left flank. He had time and space to slot the ball past Crowle.

The ‘keeper was in excellent form, making a super double save from Adam Lennox and Andrei-Vasile Ardelean midway through the half and another good stop from Spalding 10 minutes before the break.

Northallerton’s best chance of the opening half came after 39 minutes when Ben Dale stole up from the back and narrowly failed to convert from a deep free-kick from Haase.

Shildon doubled their advantage after 64 minutes through Ciaran Banks but the visitors continued to impress with their neat build-up play. Another new signing, Harvey Rudd, shot narrowly wide just after the hour as one of five substitutes to add fresh energy.

Ardelean effectively put the game out of Town’s reach by scoring Shildon’s third goal after 71 minutes, but still the visitors refused to give up the fight. Midfielder Luca Sartini threatened to pull one back when he shot wide when well placed, but it was left to substitute James Coatsworth to score a consolation goal in injury time.

It was no less than Northallerton deserved for their never-say-die performance.

Shildon: Taylor, Harris, Scott (Petch 65), C Banks, Brown (Saunders 76), Price, Greulich-Smith, Reay, Ardelean (Green 89), Lennox (Buckle 89), Spalding.

Sub not used: Moyes.

Northallerton Town: Crowle, Cullen (Rudd 54), Haase, Sartini, Allen, Dale (Nicholas 77), Kirokiro (Stapley 65), J Kitching, Croft (Coatsworth 65), A Banks (W Kitching 82), Wilkinson.

Att: 248.

Northallerton Town FC

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