Dunston extended their unbeaten league run with a 3-1 win against Bishop Auckland. Goals from Wil Shaw, JJ O’Donnell and Dan Wilson sealing the three points.

Jon McDonald made two changes from Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat against Stockton Town with Sado Djalo and Rory Edwards replacing Phil Turnbull and Fin Neary. New signing Dean Briggs also joined the bench.

Bishop Auckland had the first chance of the game when JJ Hooper’s effort from close-range landed straight into the arms of Dan Lowson. However, it was Dunston who took the lead when Wil Shaw slotted past Harrison Bond to give Dunston an early lead.

Soon after Dunston opened the scoring, Bishop Auckland equalised from a free-kick after Aaron Brown headed past Dan Lowson from the right-hand side of the box.

The game continued its fast start and a goal of the season contender from JJ O’Donnell put Dunston back into the lead following a cheeky lob over Bond from the edge of the box.

Dunston started the second-half the exact same as the first with Wil Shaw almost extending the lead to 3-1 within five minutes but his effort rattled off the underside of the bar.

David Robinson’s effort from the edge of the box narrowly dropped wide of Bond’s goal before two minutes later, Dan Wilson’s near post finish extended the lead to put the game out of sight.

Sado Djalo and Wil Shaw both came close to extending the lead; however, Djalo’s effort went narrowly wide and Shaw’s shot was well saved by Bond.

Bishop Auckland pushed for a consolation goal late on and following saves by Dan Lowson and a clearance off the line by Sado Djalo, Dunston held on for a 3-1 win and an important three points.

Next up for Dunston is an away game in the Northern Premier League East division against Heaton Stannington this Tuesday.

Dunston: Lowson, H.Neary, McDonald, Edwards (F.Neary, 80’), Walker, Devitt, O’Donnell, Djalo (Briggs, 72’), Wilson (Turner, 59’), Robinson, Shaw

Substitutes: Baxter

Yellow Cards: Turner

Goals: Shaw (7’), O’Donnell (27’), Wilson (59’)

Bishop Auckland: Bond, Metz (Gibson, 35’), Risbrough, Brown, Almond, Spence, Jarvie, Whitfield (Boucher, 67’), Hooper (Thexton, 67’), Nyantou, Blackford (Roberts, 52’)

Substitutes: Pocklington

Yellow Cards: Whitfield, Boucher

Goals: Brown (21’)

Attendance: 313

By Thomas Boyle