ALNWICK Town suffered their first home defeat of the season with a 4-1 loss against Ponteland United.

Town, unbeaten in their first four games at St James' Park this term, surrendered a one-goal lead as Ponteland recorded their first win of the campaign.

>> Alnwick Town fixtures, results and Northern Alliance, Premier Division table for 2008/09 season.

Alnwick, missing seven first team players including Neil Catlow, Paul Yeadon and Gary Bailes, were undone by a second-half brace by the impressive Richard Kent. And strikes from Sean Willis and Andrew Davidson either side of Kent's double condemned Town to their third defeat of the season.

But things started well for the hosts. After just 10 minutes James Swordy put Alnwick ahead, the striker sliding in from eight yards to convert a dangerous low cross into the box from Tony Brown.

Alnwick were pegged back 13 minutes later. The visitors, who had began to build some momentum, equalised through Willis. The number 11 prodded the leveller home at the second attempt after a good first save from Brian Brooks.

And United could have doubled the lead, but for two saves from Brooks. The first, the best of the two, was kept out with his feet after a drilled shot from Kent. The second was more comfortable, with Brooks holding an effort from Willis.

At the other end, Ponteland stopper Michael Havelock held James Lang's shot from distance before denying Swordy when he was clean-through on goal.

The teams went into the break all square but Ponteland took the lead soon after.

Just 10 minutes into the second-half, with the rain lashing down, Kent grabbed his first of the night. The pacey forward raced onto a clever through-ball and tucked the ball past Brooks for Ponteland's second.

Nine minutes later, United, who coped with the soggy conditions better than their hosts, increased their lead. Willis turned Murray - who had been solid all night - on the half-way line and played the ball to Kent. The number 10 cut into the box and slotted the ball delicately into the far corner.

Ponteland could have gone four-up on two occasions but Brooks saved well, first a brave challenge on Kent when the striker was clean-through and the second a parry from Andrew Davidson's low effort.

But moments later Davidson did score United's fourth with what was the goal of the night. The substitute raced onto a through-ball and cleverly curled the ball round Brooks.

The defeat left Alnwick in sixth, without a win in four. Ponteland's first points in three games lifted them up one place to 13th.

Alnwick travel to Shankhouse on Saturday. Kick-off 2.30pm.

In the night's only other match, Peterlee Town won their Premier Division home encounter 3-2 against newly-promoted Murton.

Alnwick team: B Brooks, B Murray, A McFall, G Patterson, R Young, J Lang, T Brown, B Webster, J Swordy, R Brown, A Tait. Subs: B Keenan, D Lowes, G Saunders, D Kennedy.