Town 6 - 6 Alnwick

Saturday sees Town with a home league game against the visitors from Alnwick FC. It would be the third meeting of the season between the two furthest apart clubs in the league with Town wining both earlier games in the league by 4-2, and 5-2 respectively. Last season the corresponding fixture saw Town victorious and scoring eleven goals in the process.

Teams

Northallerton Town
Tom Dawson Mattie Crossen Karl Hewitt Liam Jarvie Dan Jones Jack Proctor Richie Walker Andrew Shepherd Nicky Martin Aaron Ramsbottom and Shaun Hudson

Subs: Colin Anderson Chris Dickinson Dale Elgie Stephen Jackson and Richard Farrel

Alnwick Town
Robert Hodgson Chris Laidlaw Jake Lowes Tony Brown Ryan Douglas Peter Scott Lewis Robson Kevin Westhall Darren Riddell Robert Baker and Philip Bright

Subs: Joseph Pickard Joseph Threlfall and Alex Laviers.

Referee: Mr Tom Bainbridge (Hartlepool)

It was a still wet and cold day with the incessant rain still falling. There was a reasonable number of supporters in the ground at kick off time with only a few from Alnwick. Town wore their black and white striped shirts with Alnwick in a predominantly orange strip. Dan Jones captained the team and Town played right to left in the first half.

Dam Jones was fouled early doors and visibly limping. In the second minute Town took the lead when Shaun Hudson skipped down left and put in a centre which Nicky Martin laid into the path of LIAM JARVIE who was about the penalty spot and he rifled a shot through a load of legs to score the first goal.
Richie Walker was on the right wing and came inside and next Shaun Hudson centred again up the left but his cross just evaded the lunge of Nicky Martin at the back post. In the 11th minute Martin Crossen passed the ball across the area which was intercepted by ROBERT BAKER who shot past Tom Dawson to restore parity in the scores. In the 14th minute PHILIP BRIGHT was on the mark to give Alnwick a 2-1 advantage. Moments later a move up the left initiated by Richie Walker saw a centre to Aaron Ramsbottom played onto Shaun Hudson who shot and which the keeper could only parry but defenders cleared the ball before the Town forwards could capitalise.

Aaron Ramsbottom played into the path of Shaun Hudson who again shot which the keeper saved with his legs. Karl Hewitt kicked into touch and when the ball fell to JAKE LOWES he unleashed a shot from distance which flew into the goal then on 26th minute SHAUN HUDSON found himself in space at the back post and calmly shot into the goal. Again Shaun Hudson shot but the keeper saved. Dan Jones got back to deflect a shot into the arms of Tom Dawson.

Shaun Hudson fired in a centre to the feet of Aaron Ramsbottom who laid it out to Richie Walker who fired in a shot which the keeper palmed out for a corner. In the 36th minute with the best move of the game Town scored the equalising goal. Richie Walker, Liam Jarvie, Andrew Shepherd were all involved before the ball fell to the feet of AARON RAMSBOTTOM who rifled a venomous shot into the goal to restore parity in the scores

It had been an entertaining game with six goals scored. Crazy defending and some good goals had ensured that the teams changed ends level on goals

Half time: Northallerton 3 Alnwick 3

No changes to personnel were made at the break. Mattie Crossen had put his first half error behind him and fired a shot down the line to Liam Jarvie who played it off a defender for a throw in. The pitch was cutting up and Town would have to adapt their play. Crazy defending again presented Alnwick with another goal when confusion between Mattie Crossen and Tom Dawson presented KEVIN WESTHALL with a chance and he shot into the goal in the 52nd minute. Chris Dickinson replaced Richie Walker. A header from Richie Walker came back of a post and the ball went into the Town area and with the defence AWOL PHILIP BRIGHT picked his spot and calmly slotted home to give Alnwick a two goal advantage. In a crazy game AARON RAMSBOTTOM scored his second goal. Nicky Martin was replaced by Colin Anderson.

Dan Jones surged down the right but when he lost the ball a quick break left Jack Proctor exposed. Chris Dickinson had a shot from a corner which went found Colin Anderson offside. Liam Jarvie played a ball to Chris Dickinson who was too easily disposessed. In the 75th minute a long ball into the Town area found ALEX LAVIERS in space who picked his spot and slotted home. Andrew Shepherd was brought down in midfield. Stephen Jackson replaced Dan Jones.

In the 84th minute Mattie Crossen played the ball down the Line to Aaron Ramsbottom who played the ball across goal for COLIN ANDERSON to slot home at the back post then in the 87th minute STEPHEN JACKSON scored again for time when he shot home through the legs of several defenders.

It had been another crazy day at Town. Twelve goals shared equally between the teams resulted from some crazy defending and some good goals scored but the pitch which had cut up quite badly had contributed to the goal fest.

Full time: Northallerton Town 6 Alnwick Town 6