They shrugged off the blow of losing manager Deano Browne and three experienced players by recording their biggest win of the season.

Town’s young squad excelled on a heavy pitch and again demonstrated the indomitable team spirit that could be a key asset in their battle to stay in the Ebac Northern League First Division.

Caretaker manager and former Northallerton player Dion Raitt, assisted by coach Matty Calvert, named a strong side containing debutants Jack Spears and Niall Short. They took just five minutes to take the lead – and new boy Short played a key role in the goal.

The former Spennymoor and Hartlepool United Academy graduate swung in a teasing free-kick from the right that centre-forward Harry Croft forced over the line amid a goalmouth scramble.

It was his seventh goal of the season and puts him level with the injured Alistair Banks in the race for Northallerton’s golden boot.

Marske pressed hard for an equaliser but could not penetrate the visitors’ well-marshalled defence in which Harvey Rudd and Josh Allen have forged a formidable centre-back pairing. Four minutes before the break, Town doubled their lead with a move started by lively right-back Oscar Cullen.

The teenager, one of this season’s best finds, swept a lovely pass to Short, who looped a spectacular long-range strike into the top corner.

Short was equally willing to do the hard yards in defence, saving his side with a vital goal-line clearance early in the second period. Raitt made some intelligent substitutions to freshen up his side before Short put the tie out of the Seasiders’ reach in the 77th minute.

Cullen provided his second assist of the evening to leave him in space to unleash a left-foot shot past home ‘keeper Harley Cotterill.

Substitute Kenzie Harker put the gloss on a morale-boosting victory with Town’s fourth goal in the first minute of injury time. Skipper Jonny Haase swung in an excellent left-wing cross that the Marske defence failed to clear and the midfielder had time and space to convert his fourth goal of the season.

The performance puts Northallerton in good spirits for Saturday's home match with fourth-placed Kendal Town (3pm). It’s the fourth meeting of the season for the teams who faced each other in the FA Cup back in August, the Mintcakes winning the preliminary-round replay and also taking the honours in the first league meeting in Cumbria.

Marske United: Cotterill, Gant, Wheatley (Dawson 76), Jackson (Riddiough 46), Joynes, Rowe, Boyle, Eglington (Draper 60), McKittrick, Craggs, Marron.

Northallerton Town: Crowle, Cullen, Haase, Rudd, Allen, Coatsworth, Stapley (J Kitching 78), Sartini (Martin 87), Croft (Dixon 64), Spears (Harker 54), Short (Kirokiro 90).

Man of the Match: Niall Short.