NORTHERN Counties East League Division One leaders Campion suffered their second defeat in a row last night, as they went down 5-3 at home to Armthorpe Welfare.

The visitors were in the bottom four going into the game, but rose to the occasion magnificently.

They had an early goal ruled out for offside then forced a great save from Campion keeper Stephen Kerr, but actually went behind, when home striker Aidan Kirby fed Sean Hunter to score after 18 minutes.

Armthorpe hit back 10 minutes later when Luke Williams lifted the ball over Kerr to score, before Paul Sherburn put them in front almost immediately afterwards.

Early on in the second half, James Arnold made it 3-1 to the visitors when he drilled the ball home from 20 yards out, but Campion substitute Edward Tordoff pulled one back with a wonderful curling strike from outside the box.

An Andrew McCreadie own goal restored Welfare's two-goal advantage, but Kirby gave the home side hope when he lashed home from 25 yards after his free-kick was blocked by the wall.

But Bradley McFadden quickly extinguished Campion hopes when he netted the visiting side's fifth after 85 minutes.

Heading into the four-week shutdown of non-league football below the National League North and South, Campion are still top, but are only a point ahead of Emley, who have two games in hand.