A seven-goal thriller at Ellington lit up an otherwise dreary afternoon of football in the Northern Alliance with only six games beating the additional wintry weather.

The hosts, who moved up to seventh with the win, opened the scoring after just three minutes through Cam Elliott only for Richie Clark to level minutes later; a busy first half then saw Callum Morgan afford the visitors the lead midway through that opening period before Adam Bains notched his customary goal five minutes before the break. 

Although there was fewer goals the second period carried on in much the same vein, as the first with Morgan grabbing his second of the afternoon to again restore the visitors lead and Daniel Purvis levelling on the hour; the game remaining that way until ten minutes from time when Liam Thompson stroked home the winner for a relieved hosts. 

The other game in the Alliance Second went in favour of hosts Jesmond, all three goals coming in the final half hour as they defeated Cramlington Town 2-1. 

Town took the lead through John Campbell only for Stewart Wright to level minutes later, the game remaining that way until the closing minutes when Charlie Young fired Jesmond to all three points. 

Elsewhere in the Alliance FC United narrowed their gap at the bottom of the Premier Division to two points when they won 3-1 at Whitley Bay A, the visitors three to the good at the interval with the goals coming in the final fifteen minutes of the first period – Dillon Swann opening the scoring on the half hour, Michael Watson doubling it minutes later with Anthony Dobie adding a third, Jamie Best notching a consolation in the final quarter. 

Jordan Dobie gave Gateshead Reserves an interval lead in the other Premier Division game as they were held to a 1-1 draw at North Shields Athletic, Marcelinho Junior levelling on the hour whilst also hitting the post with an audacious back-heel fro added measure. 

Of the two First Division games to go ahead Cullercoats jumped into second place with a narrow 1-0 win away to title rivals Bedlington, Chris Connor with the only goal of the game ten minutes from time and Hebburn Town U23s came from a goal down at the break to win 3-1 away to Prudhoe Youth Club. 

David Burns afforded the hosts the lead on the half hour which they held until five minutes into the second period when John Hobbs grabbed his first of the afternoon. 

Hobbs double the lead for Town’s U23s on the hour mark and Logan Powell made sure the visitors went away with all three points with their third twenty minutes from time.