Having been knocked out of the FA Vase by the County Durham side in November and lost heavily in the league to them away last week, Jason’s Newall’s side put the record straight in a thrilling return fixture.

A goal in either half gave them security when Crook pulled one back and they defended brilliantly to protect the points as the visitors piled on late pressure.

With key midfielder Adam Walker out with a calf strain, new signing Lee Hume was brought back into the starting line-up in the only change from the weekend victory over Penrith.

Northallerton went ahead after 16 minutes when acting captain Nathan Stephenson, spotting an opportunity outside the area, let fly with a powerful shot that deflected off centre-forward Harry Croft on its way into the net. Inevitably there was a good-humoured dressing-room debate about who should claim the goal.

Crook were always a threat going forward and fortunately ‘keeper Callum Dobson was bang on top of his game again, making some excellent saves. He was backed up by whole-hearted resistance from the entire home defence, with vital tackles and blocks going in to protect the lead.

Northallerton established a buffer zone with a second goal in the 72nd minute. They were always a threat on the break and James Coatsworth brought an excellent save out of ex-Northallerton ‘keeper Ben Fairless to force a corner.

Crook never managed to clear the danger and when Terry Galbraith swung the ball in from the left, centre-back Josh Allen got up well to force a brave header past Fairless.

The visitors replied a minute later when another former Northallerton player, Josh MacDonald, rose unchallenged at the far post to head the ball past Dobson.

Crook threw everything at Northallerton in the closing minutes but couldn’t break the resistance of Dobson and his team-mates.

Northallerton Town: Dobson, Dale, Cocks, Hume, Allen, Galbraith (Harwood 81’), Dryden, Coatsworth, Croft, Stephenson (Kitching 89’), Nicholas (Stapley 62’).

Subs not used: Banks, Tew.

Crook Town: Fairless, Goldsborough, Matthews, Mitton, Walker, Trotter, Nicholson, Dawson (Thompson 81’), Moody, MacDonald, Bunton (Coleman 46’).

Subs not used: Laviolette, Rose, Atkinson.

Man of the Match: Ben Dale

Att: 151.