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Northallerton Town 1 - 2 West Allotment Celtic |
| STL Northern League Division 1 |
| Wednesday 25 March 2009 |
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Town were under pressure prior to this game following the poor showing at Shildon. They stepped up to the plate and delivered a quality performance against high flying opponents. Manager Martyn Speight had five new faces in the squad and played three from the start, Ian Smirthwaite on loan from Darlington at centre back, Martin Butterworth a tenacious mifielder with a reputation for goals and Ed Craven a local lad left-sided midfield and winger. Campbell was moved up front to form an experienced partnership with Chilly. Commitment and movement were high on Town's agenda and they did that very well. The visitors, clearly an accomplished team, kept Towns four man back line very busy, however it was Town who came closest to scoring when a Ian Smirthwaite header came back off the post to safety. The visitors took the lead on 30 minutes with a soft goal (0-1). Town did not buckle after this and pressurised the visitors and only sloppy passing letting us down. However Town continued their good progress and took control for long periods, Neil Campbell deservedly equalised when he nodded in at the far post (HT 1-1).
The second half followed the pattern of the first with Town having their fair share of possesion but not able to capitalise on it. West always looked dangerous on the break and took the lead when Jackson was beaten on the edge of the box and the striker cooly found the back of the net (1-2). Town battled away for the last 15 mins with O'Riordan, Butterworth and Craven working hard in midfield and Chillingsworth leading the line superbly, his work rate is commendable and he was given marginally offside with what looked like an equaliser in injury time.
Though a defeat this performance can only give the Town fans hope for the rest of the season, the new lads did enough to show they can make a difference, bearing in mind they had not played at NL level before. Saturday's home game with Ashington should hold no fears. |
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| Attendance: 116 |
| Man of the Match: Carl Chillingsworth |
| Reporter: Wack |
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