The Northern Inland Premier League finals might be three weeks away but Norths United and Tamworth FC played with a finals-like intensity on Saturday at Scully Park.
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Defence was at the fore for both sides as they both went home with one competition point each following a 1-all draw.
The two goals of the match came within three minutes of each other.
Norths broke the deadlock 34 minutes in when a free kick which looked on target but ricocheted off the crossbar.
The luck of the bounce favoured an awaiting Anthony Green.
It couldn’t have been any easier for him and he tapped in the goal to make it 1-0.
Tamworth FC replied minutes later when a nice first touch from Beau Langenbaker saw him get in the clear only to be run down before he got his shot away.
The ball rolled towards to the right of goalkeeper Adam See as players from both sides flooded the box.
A minuscule fumble from See allowed Josh Bartlett to pinch the ball and score.
Two key moments in the second half also came within minutes of each other.
After Tamworth FC called for a foul after Bailey Campbell fell during a challenge while he was on the attack – which was dismissed – Norths were awarded a penalty kick up the other end.
Declan Druitt stepped up to the mark and sent goalkeeper Troy Osborne the wrong way but the shot hit the paint leaving the score at 1-all.
Norths managed to hit the paint once or twice more and FC got a fair share of shots off as well as both defensive units kept up their good records to see out a 1-all draw.
With the defensive effort so strong from both sides, it makes sense it’s what impressed Norths United captain Jason Boundy the most.
“I think our backs really stood out, they held us solid in the back there, not letting anything go through,” he said.
Tamworth FC manager Grant Davidson was equally impressed with his own team’s effort at the back.
“That was probably, with the 17 we had, the best defensive game we’ve played all year,” he said.
“To get a point out of that game against North Armidale puts us a long way to making the top four, we needed points this weekend.”
The two teams will clash again tomorrow in a catch-up game.
In other games, Demon Knights defeated East Armidale 5-2, North Companions toppled Oxley Vale Attunga 1-0 and Joeys got up 5-2 over South Armidale.