In a tight game of few chances, the best of the first half was probably the first - on 4 mins Luke Parkin's curling strike came off the crossbar after an attack down the right wing.

Whilst it was a hard-working performance from The Miners they struggled to hold the ball up in the final third and create clear-cut chances. Nash Connolly's header over the bar from Max Tweddle's delivery on 20 mins the closest of the half we got to beating Jack Hall in the Avenue goal. Down the other end Adam Haw (?)'s low strike was just wide when he was played in by Louie Charlton.

On 34 mins Town suffered a setback when Tweddle pulled up injured and couldn't continue. Harry Colville, himself back from injury, replacing him. Avenue finished the half the stronger; Connor Shanks (?) went close with a turn and shot which went wide of the far post, before Luke Parkin hit just wide after Jameel Ible's shot was blocked.

There were a couple of good openings for Paul Marshall's side early in the second period; Rinor Ejupi seeing a low effort saved by Hall after good work on the left by Dexter Ball and Charlie Marshall. Another break ended in Connolly squaring to Colville inside the box but his effort was straight at Hall.

On the hour-mark Harry Flatters came up with a good save to keep the scores level, tipping over the bar a rising shot from Charlton after the ball was worked from left to right along the edge of the box. From a free-kick on 73 mins sub Myles La Bastide's 25-yard effort was just about dealt with by Flatters. A goal had been coming for the hosts and it arrived two minutes later. From Luke Hendrie's thrown-in on the right, Haw laid the ball off to Chorlton who fired into the top corner.

There were no further openings for the hosts to add to their lead and in the end didn't really need them; Jamie Barkway being inches away at the far post from connecting with Connolly's corner kick the closest Town got to a late equaliser. A fifth match unbeaten for our neighbours as their promotion charge continues, and their third over us in four meetings.

A first defeat on the road in four for The Miners who return to LS25 next Saturday, when Dunston are the visitors (kick-off 3pm).