The striker moved from Whickham less than two months ago and has already notched seven goals for his new side, including three from the penalty spot in as many matches. Player-coach Dale Hopson, back from suspension, scored the other goal as Town leapfrogged the Tynesiders to move two places up the table.

It was a much-needed boost following a 6-1 mauling by form team Easington in their last home outing and there were stand-out performances throughout the team. However, it might have been a different story but for two brilliant saves from ‘keeper Ben Fairless in the early stages.

Fairless and Hopson both returned after missing the Easington defeat in an otherwise unchanged line-up.

Both teams had chances in a high-tempo opening. After surviving some early scares, Northallerton went close when Mackenzie Crooks whacked a long-range howitzer against the bar and Martin had a goal chalked off for offside.

But it was Whickham, comprehensively remodelled following major squad upheaval at the start of the season, who took the lead just after the half-hour through Aaron Zamor. The winger took his chance well after beating Northallerton’s offside trap.

Martin equalised amid a goalmouth scramble in the last minute of the first half to ease Town’s nerves and then put them in front three minutes after the restart. The centre-forward poked the ball over the line from close range as the balance of the match swung decisively in Northallerton’s favour.

They scored their third goal after 55 minutes and this time Martin turned creator, heading the ball down for Hopson to smash the ball into the net from close range.

The icing on the cake came as Martin claimed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after 63 minutes after Reece Littlefair had been felled in the area. The striker fired his shot straight down the middle and there was no way back for Whickham.

“That performance gives us a lot of confidence,” said manager Jamie Poole. “But we mustn’t relax – we need to take that form into our away games, which is where improvement is needed.”

Northallerton travel to Crook on Saturday and Blyth Town on Tuesday.

Northallerton Town: Fairless, Wilson, Littlefair, Boucher, Drury, Harnett, Davies, Hopson (Bramley 78), Martin (Alderson 73), Thomas (Beasley 78), Crooks.

Subs not used: Poole, Kilpatrick.

Whickham: Robertson, Wake, Bakou (Dlugosz 67), Newall, Dolan (Kinniburgh 65), Achuo, Zamor, Deverdics (Naisbitt 65), Comstock, Payne, Ajavon.

Subs not used: Below, Chapman.

Att: 189.