Stockton Town secured a much-needed three points in a goal-frenzy affair against Bamber Bridge on Teesside.
Jake Petitjean, Adam Nicholson, Callum Bone and a brace from Josh Scott sealed the points for Stockton in an immense showing.
Cam Painter, playing left back for the day, was called into action early to make a big challenge, denying Jamie Allen a tap-in from a cross.
It was Petitjean who opened the scoring in emphatic fashion, hitting a wonderful free-kick in off the crossbar, which was deemed over the line by the referee’s assistant.
As Stockton looked to be taking a one-goal lead into the break, Josh Scott scored twice in two minutes – firstly beating his defender to head a Stephen Thompson cross home, and then powering a wonderful strike from the edge of the area past Goodness Gospel-Eze to make it a 3-0 game at the halfway stage.
Half-time: Stockton Town 3-0 Bamber Bridge
After missing a few prior opportunities, Stockton skipper Adam Nicholson made no mistake firing home from a Jake Petitjean cross to add a fourth on 63 minutes.
Josh Scott nearly had a hat-trick, when he beat the goalkeeper to a long ball, and trickled an effort towards goal, but he was denied by the post.
An injury to Aaron Brown, and with five substitutions already made, meant Stockton would have to close the game out with 10-men.
The home side were stunned by two goals in two minutes from Bamber Bridge, when Billy Bould and Jack Baxter found a way past Nathan Harker to give Stockton a nervy finish.
But Gateshead-loanee Callum Bone secured all three points for Stockton when he showed elite composure to cut inside towards goal and finish past the trailing defender, after he had beaten the goalkeeper following a long ball, and Stockton picked up a big three points to climb them out of the relegation zone.
Full-time: Stockton Town 5-2 Bamber Bridge
It’s another break from league action next week for the Anchors, as they visit Warrington Rylands in the FA Trophy.
