West Auckland Town surged up the Northern Premier League East Division, recording three wins on the spin before their run was ended by fifth-place Pontefract Collieries last weekend.
Having taken encouragement from their 3-1 victory at home against Heaton Stannington, West travelled to South Yorkshire where they earned a further confidence-boosting 0-3 win at Stocksbridge Park Steels.
A first half 20-yard strike from Liam Hegarty was doubled by Cobi Jones just two minutes into the second half before Luke Bailey’s strike deflected home off a defender to seal a comfortable win.
Next was the visit of Ashington to Darlington Road for an entertaining five-goal thriller which saw three goals in the opening five minutes.
West took the lead through James Harrison in just 12 seconds before Fin O’Gorman struck the home side’s second in three minutes.
Ashington halved the deficit just a minute later before drawing level with just ten minutes left to play.
But West weren’t done yet and it was Wayne Whitfield who proved the hero, finding the winner in the 89th minute.
However, the side were brought back to earth with a bump by an experienced Pontefract side who recorded a 1-3 win last weekend.
Two first half goals were added to on the hour mark before the visitors went down to ten men.
West’s consolation arrived in the dying seconds, with the defeat leaving the home side 16th in the table, but having secured nine from twelve points in their latest four outings.
Confidence was duly resored in midweek as Tow Law Town became the latest victim of a resurgent West in the Durham Challenge Cup.
Three first half goals, from Adam Mitchell (5), Ben Dale (35) and Liam Hegarty (44) ensured the home side would march on before Fin O’Gorman put the seal on the win with fifteen minutes remaining.
In a busy month of eight games including six at home, next up, West travel to sixth-place Lincoln Utd before hosting three games: Beverley Town in midweek on Tuesday (13 October); Consett the following Saturday and Hallam the next midweek (20 Oct).