They failed to build on encouraging recent home results and instead allowed newly-promoted Redcar Town to leapfrog them in the Ebac Northern League First Division.

This was Redcar’s first home league win of the season following their lengthy cup adventures and Northallerton didn’t look like getting back into the contest after falling behind midway through the second half.

Charlie Thompson, Liam McNamara and Luca Sartini were all forced off with injuries and their loss was undoubtedly a factor in this defeat. That creates extra worries for manager Jamie Poole, while player-coach Dale Hopson remains suspended for Saturday's trip to Kendal.

Striker Lewis Martin was fit enough to return to the starting line-up and Mackenzie Crooks returned at left wing-back as the visitors retained their favoured 3-5-2 formation. There was little to separate the sides in a goalless first half, with the best chance falling to Redcar winger Joe Taylor who hit the bar with a long-range effort.

The visitors’ game plan went out of the window after the injury-enforced withdrawal of Thompson, McNamara and Sartini and the home side took advantage by exploiting gaps in the reshaped defence. Substitute Lucas Taylor was left with a straightforward conversion after 67 minutes.

Kayden Robinson-Coley crossed from the left for him to poke the ball in the net from 10 yards out.

Manager Poole emptied his bench in an effort to spark a response but Northallerton failed to produce a shot on target all evening.

“Going forward we looked poor and didn’t hold the ball up enough,” he said. “You’re not going to win games like that.

“I feel sorry for our defenders because they were very good. But further up the field we just never got at Redcar.”

Northallerton had been boosted by an encouraging 1-1 draw with Newcastle Blue Star at the Calvert Stadium last Saturday that extended their unbeaten home run to five games. On Saturday, they face a Kendal side who sit at the bottom of the table after narrowly missing out on the play-offs last season.

Redcar Town: Cowey, Cameron Wilson, Garbutt, Sekete, Luck, Gott, J Taylor, Duffield (Liddle 83), Clark (L Taylor 64), Robinson-Coley, Abdullahi (Gray 64).

Northallerton Town: Fairless, Callum Wilson (Alderson 86), Littlefair, Sartini (Bramley 58), Drury, McNamara (Creamer 54), Thompson (Davies 25), Boucher, Thomas (Kilpatrick 68), L Martin, Crooks.

Att: 214.