Dev Squad draw with table-topping Northgate, Marosi saves late penalty to preserve league unbeaten run

Development Squad	1-1	Northgate Olympic
Salter		Barnshaw

Report by Simon Burnett

On Sunday we welcomed Northgate Olympic to New Holland, the current league leaders so we knew we were in for a tough game.

They have only lost once in the league this season and that was to us early in the season but that was a tight game and it took us 70 minutes to break them down so we expected the same.

Pos	Player
GK	Luca Marosi
DEF	Billy Peck
DEF	Max Brandrick
DEF	Jimmy Hiley
DEF	Jake Croft
MID	Jake Forman
MID	Jamahl Palfreyman
MID	Seb Parker
ATT	David Finley
ATT	Seb Burnett
ATT	Cole Salter ⚽
SUB	Rio Drury
SUB	Louie Rodgers

We started really well and we kept control of the game in the early stages and stretched their defence with really good link up play on both flanks, but more coming down the right through Salter.

He was whipping some good early balls in but after 10 mins Northgate turned over possession at the back and Peck quickly slide tackled the defender and ball went to Salter who took it into the box and slammed one diagonally towards the goal and it ricochet into the net for 1-0.

We continued to run the game until around 25/30 mins when a foul around 35 yards out gave Northgate a free kick, their first real chance up to now but they struck it well and Luca Marosi, who was stepping up from the under 16s again due to Oscar Kuehn’s suspension, nearly got his hand to it but unfortunately it bounced off the bar and deflected in for 1-1.

At this point it felt unfair but Northgate grew into the game as it opened up with both teams now creating chances. It was 1-1 at half time and felt like we had wasted the early dominance but we went again second half and started quickly but opposition were much better second half and created lots of chances that required last ditch tackles from Brandrick, Hiley and later from Rodgers as he replaced injured Hiley.

It was the same at the other end with Salter, Burnett and Finley creating chances but not quite finishing them. Drury came on for Forman too and was unlucky with a one in one with the keeper who managed to save it but great run.

Palfreyman and Parker grafted in midfield. It looked like the game was heading for a draw when Northgate drew a foul in the box and the referee pointed to the spot with less than 10 Minutes to go so looked like our unbeaten run in the league might be coming to an end as the player put the ball on the spot against young Marosi, the player stepped up confidently and shot high into the net but from nowhere the young keeper pushed it over the bar to keep us in the game and crown off a fine display in between the posts.

The last 10 mins were tight and nervy as both teams pressed for a winner, It remained 1-1 leaving our opponents at the top of the league by 3 points but their season has finished and we have 4 games left to go so in our hands which is all we can ask for.

Next game Immingham on Thursday at the Easy Buy who sit one place behind us and they are a very good side who will be looking to finish the season strongly so should be another tough game.