Last updated 11:49, Monday, 06 October 2008

Northern league: Whitehaven Amateurs produced an eye-catching performance at North Shields and were rewarded with an emphatic 5-2 win.

Among the goal-scorers were two players who were making their debuts – Dan Gullen and Gary Hodgson – while Lee Dixon, coming back from a three-week injury lay-off was also on the score-sheet.

Whitehaven lead Division Two of the Skilltraining Ltd Northern League by four points from Norton and Stockton Ancients who have three games in hand.

Whitehaven opened well playing into the wind and rain in the first-half but they did not make the break-through until the 30th minute.

The ball was played into the home box where Hodgson showed great presence of mind to hold it up and then lay it cleverly into the path of Gullen who scored with a clinical finish across the keeper.

It was a complete surprise when North Shields equalised in the first minute of the second-half.

They staged a quick counter attack and Whitehaven’s defence was pulled out of position for debutant Andrew Robson to score his first goal for the club. But Whitehaven responded well and soon regained the initiative when Darren Donald played a one-two just inside the area and from the return ball scored impressively.

From a Mally Holliday corner Dixon climbed well at the far post to head in Whitehaven’s third.

Hodgson claimed a debut goal when he tapped home from close range and then David Dustin got his reward for a hard-working, unselfish display. Although Dixon’s shot appeared to be going wide Dustin raced through to get on the end of it and steer into the net.

There were only seconds left on the clock when Whitehaven weren’t concentrating at a free-kick and Craig Downey netted for the home side.

“That was the only downside – a late goal which should have been prevented,” said manager John George, who will now prepare his side for a tough test on Saturday at Stokesley.

He added: “We know them from our time in the Wearside League and it will be a hard game for us. They are 14 points behind us in fourth place but they do have six games in hand.”