Match Report | Crook Town (H)

Another fine afternoon it was for a game of football with both sides wanting to bag 3 points to further cement their course in avoiding a relegation battle.

We had the largest crowd of the season with a gate of 321, a sold-out hospitality suite for the first time since it opened and a special mascot for the day in the shape of a stag dressed in his best nurse's attire.

On to the game!

First Half

Town had to defend well early in the game as a FK was given away on the edge of the area, in what was a shooting position. However, it was Aleks Petrovic - who still hasn't lost a game in a Northallerton shirt, who made a great stop to keep it goalless.

From this point on, the game turned into an end-to-end affair with neither side really causing trouble for one another and as a result, the creation of clear-cut chances was at a premium.

That was until Alex Bruton was felled in the area on 21 minutes and Northallerton were duly awarded a penalty. Nathan Stephenson converted.

1 - 0 Northallerton

Alas, as has often been the way in recent games once Northallerton scores, they often concede shortly after and today was to be no different.

Crook equalised minutes later after a FK was unduly bundled home by Joey Hope to restore balance.

1 - 1 All square

Again the game continued in it's similar fashion and the half ended with a Northallerton substitution (Stapley on for Bruton) and some half-hearted shouts for another penalty which were waved away.

Half-Time: Northallerton 1 - 1 Crook

Second-Half

Northallerton started the second period brightly, Jack Stapley doing well and cutting the ball back across for Luke Jones but he was unable to gain the appropriate power and placement on his header.

There wasn't much in the game until we reached the hour mark. Crook had taken the following a cross into the Northallerton area and the ball was bundled home by Craig Moody

2 - 1 Crook

Northallerton started pushing forward more in order to find an equaliser, but once more there were no clear cut opportunities coming. The breakthrough finally came with less than 10 minutes left.

Stapley this time was brought down in the area, and Dale Hopson converted this time to register his first Northallerton Town goal.

2 - 2 Honours even

Then in the dying moments of the game, Northallerton thought they had found a winner when Sean Chidanyika found the back of the net but was unfortunately ruled out for offside.

Full-Time: Northallerton 2 - 2 Crook

Northallerton finds themselves at the top of the form table alongside North Shields which should fill supporters with confidence that the battle against relegation is well and truly alive.