They trailed to a first-half own goal by Josh Allen before West put the third-round tie out of reach after the break with a decider the home bench claimed was offside.

Skipper Liam Darville returned after a three-months injury absence, player-coach Jamie Harwood was back in the starting line-up and midfielder Adam Walker was able to resume after a calf strain as Northallerton looked to build on two successive league victories.

There was little to separate the sides in an even start, with Nathan Stephenson shooting over the bar and home ‘keeper Callum Dobson dealing capably with some threatening activity around his box.

West took the lead in the 24th minute in unfortunate circumstances. Full-back Oscar Eckersley-Aldsworth swung in a dangerous cross from the left and Northallerton centre-back Josh Allen, in trying to clear the ball, succeeded only in heading it past Dobson into his own net.

The home side pressed hard for an equaliser before half-time, with centre-forward Harry Croft having a shot saved by West ‘keeper Adam Cameron. Then, soon after the restart, Stephenson had a shot cleared off the line.

Next came 30 seconds of controversy that effectively put the tie out of Northallerton’s reach. They had a penalty appeal turned down in the 65th minute before West winger Max Storey tore up the other end to plant the ball past Dobson as the home bench appealed for offside.

Those protests were to no avail and from there onwards West were able to book their passage to the quarter-finals relatively comfortably.

Northallerton Town: Dobson, Dale, Cocks, Darville, Allen, Harwood, Nicholas (Tew 55’), Walker (Kitching 60’), Croft (Banks 65’), Stephenson, Dryden (Stapley 50’).

Sub not used: Galbraith.

West Auckland Town: Cameron, Hegarty, Eckley-Aldsworth (Dodds 89’), Wood (Robertson 59’), Potter, Brown, Harrison, Bailey, Davis (Berry 86’), Robinson (Metz 75’), Storey (Mitchell 75’).

Att: 134.

Northallerton Town FC

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