IN a tight game, defensive errors cost Prudhoe YC Seniors as they went down 3-1 to Willington Quay Saints.

Prudhoe were unable to make the most of a promising first half, a poor showing after the break allowing Willington to kick on and take all three points.

Prudhoe opened brightly and Phil Murray went close with a shot which just cleared the far post after two minutes. Yet Quay were ahead on five minutes when a low cross took a wicked deflection off a Prudhoe defender, and the ball fell kindly to Mark Henderson who buried his chance past the helpless Jack Walker.

Prudhoe hit back strongly and had three good chances in as many minutes.

Scott Douglas created space after a spell of trickery, and his inviting cross was begging for a touch but his wicked delivery evaded everybody in the area.

Douglas then smashed a shot on goal which was well parried away into the path of the incoming Adam Greenwood, but he was to be frustrated by the goalkeeper too.

Danny Driver was the next to try his luck but his header was collected by the assured Willington goalkeeper.

The equaliser finally came on 25 minutes courtesy of a moment of magic from captain Murray.

Collecting the ball 40 yards from goal, he beat a player with ease and shimmied past the next challenge before unleashing an unstoppable drive from 25 yards out of the goalkeeper’s reach. Prudhoe remained on top and were lining up in front of goal.

They couldn’t find that killer instinct though as Greenwood and Douglas both went close on two occasions before the half time whistle.

After a positive first half, Prudhoe suffered a set back immediately after the restart when they failed to deal with yet another long throw which allowed Henderson to steal a march and steer a header home to regain the lead for his side.

With Prudhoe struggling to get going in the second half, they failed to threaten the Willington back line although Luke Greenwood did well to fashion a chance on the hour only to be kept out by the keeper.

Willington secured all three points with a killer third seven minutes from time, lively youngster Ross Thirlaway winning a 50-50 challenge and curling a fine shot into the top corner from 25 yards.