Corey Nicholson’s 50th minute simple finish proved the difference between the sides, but the Colliers did have chances, especially at the death.

For the first time this season, the Colliers lined up with the same backline as the previous game, and Mark Davison returned to the side up front.

Upon kick-off, Crook created the first chance in the fifth minute as Tom Orton was forced into a smart save to deny an effort from the right.

A Crook header from a wide free-kick was then put over the crossbar, before the Colliers went close in the 18th minute. Luke Pearn was released down the left and took aim with a powerful drive. It was well saved by the goalkeeper, and Davison couldn’t find the target with the rebound.

In the 26th minute, Josh MacDonald blazed over the hosts.

Crook had created the better of the chances up to this point, but the game then became ever so slightly flat, with no further chances until the halves final five minutes. Late in the half, Andrew Nelson had a header crucially blocked, before good work from Matty Weirs picked out Callum Stanton on the edge of the area in added time, but he could only drag a shot wide.

Five minutes into the second half, Crook scored the game’s only goal. A ball from the left bypassed numerous players to eventually come through to Nicholson at the back post, and he was left with a simple finish.

Looking for a route back into the game, Dylan Elliott, Dane Eltringham, Garon Garside and Brad Hird were introduced to the game, and in the 75th minute, the latter of the three had a chance to equalise. A flick on found Hird in a good position, but his shot was well saved by Alex Curran.

Shortly after, Davison headed wide after a pinpoint Elliott free-kick.

The final 15 minutes were probably the Colliers’ best, and in stoppage time, they were looking very dangerous.

Davison had a shot deflected into the ‘keeper’s hands, before Garside had a shot crucially blocked.

In the fourth additional minute, Stanton curled a lovely cross into the area, and it just needed the slightest of touches, but no one could find that vital touch.

And, a minute later, Hird had a chance. A corner dropped in the six yard box to Hird, but he couldn’t quite reach it to get good enough contact, and he could only slice an effort over.

The Colliers’ felt as though they could have got something from the game, but the final whistle summoned the Green Army to defeat.

Full-time: Crook Town 1-0 Easington Colliery

Crook Town: Curran, Goldsborough, Thompson, Mitton (c), Matthews, Laviolette, Nicholson (Raper, 78′), Havelock-Brown (Moody, 58′), Coleman (Bewley, 86′), Trotter, MacDonald (Bunton, 72′)

Unused sub: Walsh

Easington Colliery: Orton, Ord (Garside, 74′), Charlton (Eltringham, 56′), Stanton, Nelson, Trewick, Pearn (Hird, 63′), Fairley (Elliott, 56′), Davison, Weirs (c), Tapping

Unused sub: Forster

Attendance: 338

Referee: Anthony Duffy