SEATON DELAVAL 1 ALNWICK TOWN 1

Alnwick were away to fourth placed Delaval for the mid week encounter Delaval spurred on by their five nil thrashing of high flying Harraby in there previous game.
Alnwick again made changes to their team bringing in four reserve team players in to the squad.
Alnwick had the first real chance of the game after 10 mins Marc Richardson rounded the keeper but ran wide the striker pulled the ball back to Richard Brown who miscued his shot from 8 yards.
Delaval threatened in spells without creating any clear cut chances the best of which came from a spell of corner kicks.

As the game went on Delaval were being frustrated by Alnwicks five man midfield and resolute defending. Alnwick counter attacked for the first period and had their own period of pressure, Tony Brown firing just over the bar from 20 yards.
A pretty even first half ended goalless.
Alnwick were dominant in the opening mins and forced the Delaval defence back, a free kick from 25 yards from Neil Catlow was well saved by the Delaval keeper as it went through a crowded area.
It was the home side that got the opener a cross which should have been dealt with in the Alnwick six yard box was headed home by Anderson for what was a poor goal to give away on 60 mins.
Alnwick seemed to be out of luck on 65 mins a free kick was crossed in by Catlow it eluded the Delaval keeper hitting the underside of the bar going on to the post and back across the goal line eventually being cleared for a corner.
Alnwick introduced forward John Colly for the last 20 mins with nearly his first touch he shot powerfully just wide of the post from 25 yards.
Alnwicks Gary Paterson on 80 mins had a powerful header from a Brown corner just missing the target and going over the bar.
The equaliser came on 85 mins the ball being won in the centre circle by Patterson who then fed Richardson who in turn laid the ball in the path of Colly from a similar position as his first effort this time the young forward electing to calmly place the ball high and wide of the advancing keeper and give Alnwick a share of the points.
Praise on the night to the reserve payers Lillico, Bickerton, Macfaul and Colly who all had excellent games.


TEAM     B BROOKS, D LILLICO, N CATLOW, C BICKERTON, R YOUNG,
                T BROWN, A TATE, G PATTERSON, P YEADON, R BROWN,
                M RICHARDSON, A MACFAUL, J COLLY