Willington Quay Saints climbed up to third place in the table after a seventh league win in a row, young Joe Connor scoring twice against 5th placed Red Row on a glorious sunny day at the Barking Dog.
Manager Peter Donkin made two enforced changes with Mark Wilkinson and Andy Breheny replacing Stephen King and Matty Adams who were both unavailable.
The Quay made a fast start and came close twice in the first 5 minutes as first Dale Johnson headed a Phil Doolan long throw narrowly wide and from Doolan's next throw veteran Mark Henderson headed off the post as Red Row struggled with the aerial bombardment.
Welfare also made a bright start going forward and went close to taking the lead as ex Newcastle youngster Phil Airey latched onto a long ball before firing a stinging left shot that keeper Peter Lowery did brilliantly to keep out one handed at his front post.
Saints right back Micky Austin then produced a great tackle to stop a certain goal as the ball flew across the penalty area he just got a touch to put the ball out for a corner with Airey ready to tap home at the back post.
A tense affair looked to be heading into half time goalless but two goals for the Quay just before half time put them well in command, it was no surprise that both goals came from Doolan's long throws first youngster Joe Connor headed home after the throw wasn't dealt with and then two minutes later Henderson header somehow slipped between the keepers hands and into the net making it 2-0 at the break.
Red Row still reeling from the ending of the first half made a nightmare start to the second as the Quay scored again, a free kick into the box was chested down by Dale Johnson into the path of Joe Connor who made no mistake firing the ball into the corner left footed for his fifth goal of a highly impressive debut season with the Saints.
Red Row were handed a lifeline straight back into the game as they were awarded a penalty for a foul on Airey, Luke Baston stepped up and sent Lowery the wrong way to pull a goal back for his side.
The Quay restored their three goal lead immediately, Henderson played a great through ball for Ross Thirlaway and the youngster ran on before firing in strong shot that was well saved by the keeper but Thirlaway reacted quickest to smash the rebound in for his 17th goal of the season.
Welfare then responded with a goal of their own in a frantic spell in the match as Marc Nixon got the better of a tangle with Doolan in the box before bending the ball into the corner to drag his team back in to the game again.
The visitors were enjoying their best spell of the game and with 12 minutes left they pulled another goal back Nixon grabbing his second of the game after Airey had scuffed a shot across the face of goal leaving him with a tap in from 4 yards.
The Quay didn't have time to worry about blowing their lead as they scored in their next attack, Thirlaway ran away down the right hitting a powerful strike that the Red Row keeper could only parry into the path of Breheny who gleefully tapped home for his ninth goal of the campaign.
The last ten minutes went by without the Saints being troubled and Connor went close to grabbing a hat-trick at the other end but fired just over after Glen Johnson had played him through.
7 wins in a row and now 10 games unbeaten the Saints travel to Ryton and Crawcrook A on Wednesday before an eagerly awaited trip to Spittal Rovers on Saturday.
