LOUTH Town moved up to seventh in the Northern Counties East League's First Division as they ran out 2-1 winners against Eccleshill United.
Goals from Craig Lill and Jamie Coulson either side of Marcus Edwards' equaliser for the visitors ensured the White Wolves bounced back immediately from last week's heavy defeat to AFC Emley.
Paul Walden made three changes to the side, bringing Danny Kilmore, Lee Croft and Frazer Chapman into the starting line up, and it worked well as Town went on the front foot from the start.
A deep corner early on from Croft found Coulson at the far post and his header was cleared off the line, but almost a carbon copy set piece saw Louth take the lead minutes later.
Another deep Croft corner found Coulson, right, who again headed back across the box where Lill anticipated the knock down to fire the home side into the lead after just nine minutes.
Eccleshill impressed on the ball with their trademark passing game but with little threat in the last third, their best chance of the first half came from a long ball, but the reliable Scott Drury made a good save.
The second half got under way again with the visitors playing keep ball, but still were no great threat with Danny Stevens and Carl Martin outstanding at the back.
After 80 minutes though, Eccleshill equalised when Louth failed to clear their lines and Edwards scored with a superb finish.
If the visitors thought that could be a spring board towards victory they were mistaken, as two minutes later, Coulson rose highest to meet a Jordan Smith corner and head home the winner.
Even with late withdrawals and Reece Newell playing in an unfamiliar right back spot, Louth still looked comfortable and go into next weekend's local derby against Grimsby Borough with renewed confidence.
"We got the reaction from the boys that we needed to get us back to winning ways," said Walden.
"Eccleshill are a good side and will take points off teams. I thought Stevens and Martin were superb, but players like Callum Hyland don't get the recognition they deserve with the unseen work he does in the middle of the park.
"We are hoping we will have five players back in contention for next Saturday in another must-win game."
