Garforth shaded the first half and had any of our chances been converted, things may well have played out differently. Luke Aldrich was unlucky early on when his volley from Matthew Savage's delivery came off the foot of the post. On 13 mins Charlie Marshall did well to beat two defenders to put himself clear but Lewis Brass in the Heaton Stannington goal was equal to his shot. A counter attack played in Rinor Ejupi, but he too couldn't open the scoring, his effort straight at Brass.

The home side started creating chances of their own with top scorer Dale Pearson firing over the bar after a one-two with Konner Lamb on 28 mins. A minute later Pearson gave his side the lead when rounding a stranded Harry Flatters to shoot low into the net. Three minutes later Ejupi almost equalised when a throw-in found him on the edge of the box; his shot pushed wide by Brass.

Flatters made a good stop from captain Daniel Capewell from Andrew Burn's free kick on 38 mins, although was ruled offside. There was another good chance for Charlie Marshall when he got clear and rounded Brass but saw his shot cleared off the line.

The Stan enjoyed the better of the chances second half as Town struggled to penetrate a well-marshalled home defence. Connor Walker's mazy run into the box was finally stopped by Flatters as he looked to shoot from a tight angle, before Samuel Johnson's effort was straight at him after receiving a Town clearance. Johnson was in again shortly after when controlling a pass inside the box, his effort flashing wide of the far post. A rare Miners chance saw Steve Jeff fire past the far post when played in by Dexter Ball.

Flatters did brilliantly to keep us in the game on 65 mins, producing a double save to deny Lamb and Pearson. Colville almost grabbed a rare goal from Savage's delivery, his volley inches over the bar. The home side continued to look the more likely in scoring the next goal with substitute Jay Errington forcing a save at the near post and then Pearson having a shot cleared off the line after a corner kick was half-cleared. Substitute Daniel Ramsden almost grabbed a late equaliser after a one-two with Jordan Emery but Brass was there again. In the end it wasn't to be for Paul Marshall's side who put in an improved performance on last Saturday's defeat to Ashington, but couldn't find the quality needed to take anything back down the A1.

Two home games up next as we seek a first win (and goal!) in three attempts, starting with the visit of Consett on Tuesday (kick-off 7:45pm).