It was set to be a long day for Dunston, with a 322 mile-round trip to fourth placed Cleethorpes Town, on the back of Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to North Ferriby.

Dunston arrived at the MyEnergi Stadium missing a number of key players, including Phil Turnbull, David Robinson & Chris McDonald.

But a hat-trick from Dale Pearson & a strong finish from the in-form Dan Turner meant Dunston were able to run out 4-1 winners despite a late scare from a Josh Walker header.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks, playing some excellent football which tested Dunston’s back line, but the latter held strong.

Cleethorpes had the first real chance of the game, as some neat football on the right hand side allowed Curtis Bateson to poke a shot past Lowson, but a recovering Craig Baxter hacked it off the line to keep the score level.

Despite their early domination, it was Dunston who took the lead, as the Owls switched off at the back allowing Dale Pearson to break in behind the defence and stroke a low effort at goalkeeper Heath Richardson, who couldn’t keep it from trickling into the bottom corner.

Cleethorpes should’ve been level ten minutes later, after some pinball in the penalty area somehow didn’t end up in the back of the net. The first shot clattered off the underside of the crossbar but didn’t cross the line, before the follow up was majestically saved by Dunston’s brick wall in between the sticks, Dan Lowson. 

The home side had a host of chances to even up the score before half-time, but a combination of an excellent tackle from Jack Walker, another great stop from Dan Lowson & some poor finishing meant Jon McDonald’s side headed into the interval a goal ahead.

The second-half started with the continued theme of Cleethorpes domination, as Dunston’s back four was forced into making countless blocks to stop any shots beating their goalkeeper.

But once again the game was turned on its head, as a massive counter-attacking opportunity saw the away side come agonisingly close to doubling their lead. 

This came as Dan Turner smashed a shot towards the Cleethorpes net, which was poorly parried by Richardson in goal. Dale Pearson followed up with what should’ve been a simple finish, but he failed to do so and hit the far post. He then had his second follow up effort stopped on the line by a defender in blue & black.

It looked like a chance that could’ve changed the game, but the boys in red had other ideas. Just a minute after the huge misses, Harvey Neary played a through ball in behind for Scott Robson, who perfectly squared it for Dan Turner in the box to finish past Heath Richardson and double the lead.

It was backs against the wall for the next twenty-five minutes, as Jon McDonald’s men put their bodies on the line to keep their two goal advantage intact.

It was an unbelievable defensive display from the away side, but eventually the clean sheet was lost after a looping header from Josh Walker dipped over Dan Lowson and rippled the back of the net.

Nerves started to grow for Dunston fans, with ten minutes remaining to defend a 2-1 lead. However, those nerves were quickly destroyed. Dale Pearson broke in behind the high line of Cleethorpes, before taking the ball around the goalkeeper and slotting it into an empty net. 

Dale wasn’t finished there, as he decided to take the match ball home with him, with a gorgeous chip over Heath Richardson to get his hat-trick. He broke in behind the Owls’ high line once again, before producing the composed finish.

The final whistle was blown soon after, giving Dunston a massive three points on the road against fellow promotion chasing opposition.

It was Dunston’s first win in five, but also a fourth win in six league games this season, putting them seventh in the table with a number of games in hand. 

Another long trip awaits on Tuesday, taking on last season’s play-off semi finalists Carlton Town.

Written by Adam Richardson