Team: Finley, Keegan, Lance, Leo, Cameron, Luke, Toby, Charlie, Luis, Kain, Jacob, Ethan, Jaxon, Kayden, Max
Two late Northowram strikes put an end to Town’s spirited second half fightback as the visitors claimed a vital victory in the race for the title.
On a fast, flat and sandy 2g surface Jacob started the game as he had left off against Brighouse last week, leading the press in the opening seconds to force an early goal kick as he charged down a clearance from the keeper and then pounced again on a similar pass out from the back to force the ball goal wards but inches wide of the target.
Northowram provided a much sterner challenge than Brighouse though and began to grow into the game, adapting better to the conditions and with a combination of power, pace and athleticism strove to take control of midfield.
A break down the left saw the Northowram winger skip past Leo before pulling the ball back from the by-line for the No7 to strike first time, Fin pulling off a reflex save to his left only for the striker to stroke home the rebound to put his side a goal up.
From the restart the boys sought an immediate response, Charlie hitting a tame shot at the keeper then Jacob forcing a save after good work on the right from Kain who found Toby free on his inside leaving Toby to adjust his footing and thread the ball through a crowded defence and into the path of our speedy striker.
At the back Lance was getting to grips with a physical Northowram frontline, leading the way with strong tackling and confidently feeding the ball back into midfield where Luke and Toby applied the artistry, stroking the ball across either flank to bring Charlie and Kain into the game.
Luke controlled a bouncing ball before sending Charlie sprinting down the left with Jacob hitting the first time cross low and hard, forcing the keeper into a fine save diving low to his right.
Luke then provided Jacob with another shooting opportunity after receiving a pass from Keegan and again our striker tested the keeper who parried the ball wide for a corner.
Luke swung in the cross which was headed clear for the visitors to then launch a dangerous counter attack but Cameron was on hand to thwart the powerful striker and expertly divert the ball back to Keegan who cleared.
A neat move initiated by the tenacious Toby saw Kain break from his marker to receive the pass before squaring to Luis who set Luke for a pile driver from distance collected by the confident hands of the keeper. Toby then swept the ball out to Charlie who beat the fullback, crossing for Kain to shoot low but wide of the left post.
Chances in the half were at a premium as each team looked to quell any attacking flair which better suited our more physical opponents as the main battles were played out down the middle of the pitch and just as the visitors began to control possession they grabbed a crucial second goal.
Building from midfield, the ball was spread wide to the visitors left winger who cut back from the bye line to find his strike partner who turned on a sixpence and drove the ball past Fin in goal to double the lead.
The goal prompted a change. Jaxon replaced Kain who was feeling the effects of a recurrent groin strain and our diminutive right winger soon got to work to hound the left back into conceding a throw deep inside Northowram territory. From the throw the ball was half cleared but Cameron reacted quickest to the loose ball not only winning it back on halfway but driving forward, drawing the centre half out of position before playing the ball through to Jacob whose shot was again saved as the referee’s whistle blew for half time.
The second half lead to a much more open and entertaining game. Leo making way for Kayden to allow a more attacking line up. A back three of Lance, Cameron and Keegan holding fort with Jacob dropping behind Kayden in attack, Luis dropping deeper to help Luke and Toby with the physical stuff and Charlie and Jaxon occupying the wingback positions.
Early pressure applied by Jaxon and Toby ended with Luke shooting narrowly wide. Northowram replying in kind by testing Max from distance without hitting the target.
Luis found space to drive into, following up with a shot which forced the keeper to palm the ball round the post for a corner. Toby’s in swinger beating everyone with Luke sweeping up on the left to send Charlie to the bye line only to see his low driven cross diverted out for another corner.
Luke curled in the cross with Luis meeting it with a bullet header which crashed in off the bar to put us back in the game and halve the deficit.
From the restart Cameron and Luke combined to send Charlie away again but again the cross was deflected out for another corner. Luke centred the set piece but the glance of a Lance header wasn’t enough to trouble the keeper as it spun agonisingly wide.
Northowram were under the cosh, Toby and Jacob setting about the visitors like twin terriers, aggressively ripping the ball away from the opposition and driving The Town forward on the attack.
Toby sought space to run into, powering down the middle only to be thwarted by a cynical yet intelligent shirt pull from the opposition midfielder to stop our energetic aggressor in his tracks.
That allowed Luke a shooting opportunity from the edge of the box but his free kick was comfortably saved.
Despite controlling possession and creating chances our boys looked vulnerable on the break, the Northowram No8 showing great athleticism and quality on the ball to explode forward, skip past three rossinieri defenders before firing over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Remaining stoic in their intent to deny the visitors the points, the lads continued to press forward. Jacob wrestling the ball back in enemy territory to provide Charlie the opportunity to find Luis in a shooting position but the shot again spun wide.
Ethan came on for Cameron and Fin came back on for Kayden in a final throw of the dice to rescue the points but as the boys pushed forward, the visitors broke quickly and with five minutes remaining their yellow shirted number 10 smashed the ball into the top corner, a quality finish making it 3-1.
Luke and Luis both conjured up efforts which went close but the yellows secured all three points minutes later, pouncing on a defensive mix up which resulted in the grateful No9 rolling the ball into an empty net.
A harsh score line for the lads to take after a battling performance in a game which ebbed and flowed in the second half, with the visitors proving more clinical in front of goal.
Toby earned the Player’s and Parent’s MOM award with a courageous display
In midfield against a strong physical team who are sure to be at the top end of the table at the end of the season.
Next up in the League, champions Westend await, bring it on!
