SPRINGHILL started this game the better of the two teams with early chances for the two forwards, but both shot over.

Alnwick started to get back in the game after 15 minutes when a good turn by Dale Kennedy allowed him to get in a shot, which was
cleared only as far as Jakey Lowes. He could not keep the ball down and it flew over.

Springhill's left-winger should have done better when he cut in from the left but he snatched at his shot with only Gordon Saunders to beat.

Alnwick scored the first goal thanks to a 30-yard free-kick from Michael Smith which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Springhill wasted a good chance at the other end when Saunders in the Alnwick goal was harshly deemed to have handled outside the box, but the resulting free-kick came to nothing.

Alnwick's number two came courtesy of a good run by Neil McFall down the right. He crossed for Kennedy to hit a shot from the edge of the box, which left the home keeper feeling he should have done better.

Alnwick enjoyed a good spell of pressure.

Colin Bickerton was unlucky not to add a third, but his first touch from a Kennedy cross let him down and allowed the defender to clear.

Then Springhill scored against the run of play.

A smart ball played in the number 11 but Saunders looked to have got there first. As he ran the ball out of his box to clear, it hit a divot and bounced over his leg to gift the Springill man an easy run on goal.

This put a spring in the home side's step and they enjoyed a good 10-minute spell without looking like adding to their one goal.

Alnwick had a couple of chances of their own before half-time.

Danny Lillico had a header cleared off the line and some neat passing between Davy McAnn and Stephen Hogg let the latter in, only to see his shot hit the foot of the post. Half-time: 1-2

The first 10 minutes of the second half was a midfield struggle, but then Alnwick started to over-power their opponents.

McAnn was felled by a defender and only the referee knows why he didn't give a penalty.

Hogg had a shot well-saved, but it wasn't long before Alnwick scored their third.

A great cross-field pass by Michael Smith found Neil McFall, whose first touch was brilliant and he crossed for McAnn to side-foot from six yards.

It was now one-way traffic, with the keeper saving well from Lowes and McFall.

Good hustling by Mike Openshaw forced a corner, which Kennedy headed against the bar, but John Colley scored with a sweetly struck volley.

Kennedy hit the bar again from a corner before Alnwick got their fifth.

A good cross from John Colley out on the right fell to Openshaw to side-foot home.

A good move involving Colley, Openshaw and McFall allowed the latter to hit a well-struck effort inches over. The final attack of the game was Springhill's, but a great double block by Lillico kept them at bay and the score remained 1-5.