Manager Jason Newall was able to recall the experienced Terry Galbraith in defence after the former Darlington player recovered from injury, and also brought James Coatsworth and Jack Stapley into the starting line-up. Harry Croft was recalled at centre-forward for the first time since late August.

Full-back Tom Kavanagh had an early chance that he put wide before Crook took the lead in the 26th minute through Kurt Matthews amid a goalmouth scramble. They doubled their lead through former Northallerton player Josh MacDonald after 39 minutes.

Things got worse for the visitors after 39 minutes when MacDonald scored his second goal and Crook’s third by planting his shot to keeper Callum Dobson’s right.

Northallerton rang the changes at the start of the second half, with Nathan Stephenson, Croft and Stapley making way for Dan Dryden, Eddie Thomas and teenage defender Joe Kitching, one of two youngsters signed from Marske United on the eve of the game.

The other new boy, midfielder Joel White (18), made his debut from the bench late in the game.

Crook extended their lead with a fourth goal scored by Corey Nicholson after 75 minutes, with Northallerton playing for pride at this stage. Nicholson claimed his second nine minutes from the end.

Substitute Matthew Tew scored his first goal for Northallerton in the second minute of injury time to give his side a late consolation.

Northallerton Town: Dobson, Kavanagh, Raper (Tew), Dale, Allen, Galbraith, Stapley (Thomas), Walker, Croft (Dryden), Stephenson (Kitching), Coatsworth (White).