Dunston endured another tough day at the office as Carlton Town took all three points at the UTS Stadium in a 3-1 victory.

A first half goal from Niall Davie was added to when Bradley Wells doubled the lead for the away side midway through the second half. Dunston got one back through Terry Galbraith with 10 minutes to play but Niall Hylton added a third for the visitors deep in the game to seal the points.

 Dunston were looking to get back to winning ways following a disappointing result away at Grimsby Borough last week, and welcomed back Carl Finnigan to the side following his three-game suspension, whilst Craig Baxter was given his first start after a significant period out injured.  

Carlton made the long journey north looking to build on last week’s galvanising victory over Pontefract Colleries, with the Nottinghamshire outfit looking to move further away from the bottom of the table.

 Dunston had the first chances of the opening exchanges, with Richard Stainsby being equal to both Richard Coulson’s curling effort and Liam Thear snapshot on the turn.

 On 22 minutes, the visitors had their first chance when Dan Elliott picked up a loose ball and rifled just wide from 25 yards out.

 As half-time approached, Carlton took the lead on 40 minutes. A corner was swung into a dangerous zone and Niall Davie got in front of his man to head home past Dan Staples.

Dunston continued to press, but Stainsby continued to keep the visitors in the game. First, he tipped over from point blank range from Carl Finnigan just yards out, before he punched wide a Terry Galbraith header. 

On 60 minutes, the away side doubled their lead. A rolled out ball failed to reach Baxter and Alex Howes skipped past the full back to roll the ball to an unmarked Wells who turned home into an empty net.

Dunston threw everything at the visitors, with Finnigan having another header saved at point blank range and Will Jenkins firing over a free-kick. They eventually got their reward on 80 minutes when Galbraith stabbed home at the back post following a melee in the box to give Dunston hope of salvaging something from the game.

But all hopes of this ended abruptly on 89 minutes, as full back Hytlon scored for the visitors. A surging counterattack down the left was started and finished by Hylton who was to quick for the Dunston backline, and after racing into the box he fired a low shot home to send his side back down the M1 with a huge three points.