Malky Morien gave Blyth Town the lead in the 13th minute and a fine Dean Walker strike doubled that lead in the 36th minute. Joe Kerridge slotted home a penalty just after the break but the hosts secured the points when Morien added a third in the 90th minute.

Five changes from Thursday's 0-0 draw with Tow Law Town saw Dale Spence come into the side for his first appearance of the season while Jack Pounder, Joe Kerridge, Aaron Croft and Luke Page all returned to the side.

Crucial players such as Chris Pearson and Reece Kenney were missing and it told in the opening exchanges as Blyth started the brighter.

In other the third minute, sloppy play from Easington meant Liam Gillesphey played the ball into David Robinson but his powerful drive was palmed to safety by Kyle Donaldson.

With Easington's first chance, Page found room to drive but could only stab over from 20 yards.

It was all too easy for Blyth though as they took the lead in the 13th minute. With Easington backing off, the hosts worked the ball into Morien and the former Dunston UTS man slotted under Donaldson to give the home side the lead.

The Colliers could have been level within only three minutes though when an ambitious effort took a wicked deflection and looped to bounce back off the crossbar with Mathew Crook worried.

Robinson forced Donaldson into a save in the 20th minute before the Easington dugout thought their side had pulled level as Spence sent a cross towards the back post where the unmarked Kerridge sent a header narrowly wide and into the side-netting.

Following a slight quiet spell, the hosts doubled their lead nine minutes from half-time. Walker collected the ball 25 yards from goal and with space, the former North Shields man fired a sweet effort which picked out the bottom corner.

Pounder tried to reduce the deficit as half-time approached but his effort was deflected wide and Easington went into the break two goals behind.

However, the east Durham outfit couldn't have hoped for a better start to the second half as they were awarded a penalty for handball. Kerridge stepped up and the former Newcastle United man confidently sent Crook the wrong way to pull the Green Army to within one.

Easington were looking brighter in the opening exchanges of the second half but several teasing crosses from Peter Jones were dealt with.

Back-to-back saves from Donaldson kept Easington in the game with 20 minutes to play as the hosts were looking dangerous from set pieces.

Despite numerous Blyth chances, the Colliers were still looking dangerous on the break and when Kerridge darted down the right before drilling a low ball across the face of goal, just the slightest of touches would have pulled Easington level but it wasn't to be.

Manager Paul Frame decided to switch to a 3-4-3 formation for the last eight minutes following the introduction of Bryan Norton but his side were to be caught out in the last minute as Blyth Town broke through the middle before feeding to ball into Morien and he slotted home his second the afternoon.

It was a disappointing afternoon for Easington who now have over two weeks before their next game against Stockton Town.

Full-time: Blyth Town 3-1 Easington Colliery

Blyth Town: Crook, Besford, Gray, Tumilty, Middleton, Herron (c), Walker, Gillesphey, Robinson (Sayer, 82'), Morien, McRoberts

Unused subs: Lee, Laidler, Andrews, Miller

Easington Colliery: Donaldson, Croft (c), Goodey, Martin ( Norton, 84'), Atkinson, Jones (Gillatt, 78'), Spence, Page, Kerridge, Pounder, Hodgson (Doyle, 54')

Unused subs: Adamson, Renton