Dunston made it three wins in a row and toppled the league leaders in the process with a 3-2 home victory over Cleethorpes Town.

The Owls took the lead midway through the first half courtesy of a deflected Adam Haw free kick. Dale Pearson equalised just before half-time, with Tom Devitt and David Robinson adding goals two and three in the second half.

Josh Walker pulled back a late consolation goal in stoppage time for the visitors, but Dunston were able to see the win through and narrow the gap to eight points with ten games to go.

Jon McDonald was forced into some changes with players unavailable. Craig Baxter and Dan Turner entered the starting line-up in place of Phil Turnbull and JJ O’Donnell. Rory Edwards and Liam Thear returned to the bench.

Neither side were able to gain a clear advantage in the early stages, with good chances coming both teams’ ways. For Cleethorpes, a goalmouth scramble following a corner culminated in the ball being cleared off the line by a Dunston defender, and moments later, Dunston had a goal of their own disallowed from another corner, with referee Kieran Downey blowing for an infringement in the buildup as the ball ended up in the net.

Ten minutes later, at the other end, Dale Pearson found himself through on goal but was unable to capitalise on this opportunity, his effort being saved by Cleethorpes ‘keeper Ollie Battersby.

Soon afterwards it was Cleethorpes who opened the scoring from a free kick 20 yards from goal. Adam Haw stepped up, the shot taking a fortuitous deflection, leaving Dan Lowson wrong-footed and unable to keep it out. 

Dunston nearly equalised through a free kick of their own, with Harvey Neary’s effort from a near-impossible angle forcing a good save out of Battersby.

Not to be deterred, Dunston continued to apply pressure and create chances. This pressure would finally pay off on the brink of half-time, as Dale Pearson once again found himself in behind the Cleethorpes defence. This time he made no mistake, taking the ball around Battersby and guiding it into the empty net on 41 minutes. That led us to half-time, with nothing to separate either side.

Dunston started the second half the better team, and their early pressure paid dividends as Tom Devitt struck home from an expert delivery by Harvey Neary on 58 minutes.

This goal only served to spur Dunston on more, as they continued to create chance after chance. The ball ended up in the net again, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Sado Djalo as he once again saw his goal chalked off, this time for a foul in the buildup. 

Unrelenting, Dunston kept possession well and kept pushing for a third. This goal would finally come on 84 minutes, as David Robinson capitalised on a defensive mishap and found himself through on goal, taking the ball round the ‘keeper and slotting home to double Dunston’s advantage. 

After the third, Cleethorpes started to find their footing a bit as they made a late push at the end, and they gave themselves a glimmer of hope as Josh Walker poked home after a great save by Dan Lowson in second half stoppage time. However, as the five minutes of added time trickled away, this goal would only turn out to be a consolation for the visitors.

Dunston return to action with another home game and this Saturday against Ossett United.

Dunston UTS: Lowson, Baxter (Edwards 80’), McDonald, M. Pearson (C), Swailes, Devitt, Neary, Djalo, D. Pearson, Robinson, Turner (Robson 83’)

Unused subs: Thear, A. Turnbull, O’Donnell

Bookings: Djalo (42’), Devitt (45+3’), Baxter (76’)

Goals: D. Pearson (41’), Devitt (58’), Robinson (84’)

Cleethorpes Town: Battersby, Gallimore (Foster 75’), Stacey (Smythe 60’), Vann, Middleton, O’Grady, Bateson, Abbott (C), Walker, Braithwaite (Annan 60’), Haw (Dockerty 60’)

Unused subs: Prunty

Bookings: Abbott (67’), O’Grady (79’), Vann (88’)

Goals: Haw (22’), Walker (90+2’)

HT: 1-1

FT: 3-2

Venue: The UTS Stadium

Attendance: 246

Report by Liam Foggin.