Stockton Town returned to winning ways in style with an FA Trophy victory against National League North Scarborough Athletic. 

The Anchors took the lead through Michael Sweet but were pegged back before halftime when Dom Tear levelled.

In the second half, Stockton secured a huge triumph when Sweet completed his brace and Kev Hayes scored his first goal since returning from injury.

Michael Dunwell’s men came into the game on the back of three straight defeats. The most recent of which was a 2-1 loss at Basford United on Tuesday. The only change to XI saw Michael Fowler come in for Josh Scott who had picked up an injury in that defeat.

The visitors started somewhat brightly and had the game’s first effort inside five minutes when Kieran Glynn had a low shot saved by Harker.

As the game began to settle. Stockton posed a threat. A good hustle from Fowler led to a Stephen Thompson effort which was deflected over the bar.

Thompson then had a strike on target which was comfortable for goalkeeper Ryan Whitley.

Stockton opened the scoring on 36 minutes when Butterworth’s freekick from the right was turned in at the back post by Sweet.

Sweet almost added to his tally minutes later when he pounced a weak header but Whitley got a hand up to deny him.

Approaching half time, Scarborough pulled themselves level when a clipped ball from Glynn was touched back by Richie Bennett into the path of Tear who fired in.

Half-Time: Stockton Town 1-1 Scarborough Athletic

Despite conceding so late in the first half, Stockton were not deterred and came out eager in the second half.

They had another decent chance when great footwork from Fowler on the right saw him play the ball through to Sweet who was unable to find a composed finish.

Scarborough looked destined to take the lead when the ball was worked to Green and he looked to round Harker but the goalkeeper timed his interception to perfection.

That save proved vital as Stockton regained their lead at the other end. Fowler was played in by Thompson, and he saw his shot saved but Sweet was on hand to convert for his brace.

Stockton remained in the ascendancy after taking the lead. Josh Baggs cut inside and curled an effort wide. Then Hayes cut inside and also fired over.

Hayes then added the third when tucked home after Sweet turned provider with a low ball from the right.

In the end, Stockton could have made the scoreline emphatic. Fowler was unfortunate not to score a goal which his performance deserved. First he was played in and Whitley denied him. He was again played in but his poked effort narrowly missed the target and was fouled in the process. From the resulting freekick Butterworth struck over.

Full-Time: Stockton Town 3-1 Scarborough Athletic

Stockton Town: Harker, King, Baggs, Painter, Nicholson, Coulthard, Sweet (Roberts 86′), Butterworth, Fowler, Thompson (Leech 89′), Hayes (Gallacher 90+2′)

Unused Subs: Purewal, Stephenson

Scarborough Athletic: Whitley, Bennett, Weledji, Colville, Purver, Thornton, Glynn (King 78′), Tear, Green (Mulhern 61′), Wiles, Maltby

Unused Subs: Heaton, Bancroft, Wilson

Goals: 1-0, 36 min, Sweet: 1-1, 44 min, Tear; 2-1, 58 min, Sweet; 3-1, 73 min, Hayes

Attendance: 1,113

Photo: Harry Cook

Words: James Cartwright