(4-4-2)

P Rogers, Evans, Moore (Griffin, 45), D Rogers, Eyre (Chan, 45), Murray, Gall, Smith, Wan, Kuczynski, Soresina (Fulton, 65)

Chalk up another in the long line of amazing CPR comebacks.

Northern Town arrived with a weakened team, having a squad of only 11 which included comedy favourite Peter Kay in goals. Still, their direct play was good enough to see them into a 3-0 lead within 30 mins. CPR had had most of the possession, but poor defending whenever Town put them under pressure led to set-pieces being conceded which the visitors duly capitalised on.

CPR were playing the ball around well but were finding it tough to break down the notherners’ defence. High balls into the box were too easily cleared by Town’s tall centre-backs, so CPR started to probe down the flanks where they began to find a few more openings. They seemed very unlucky on one occasion when a fine pass from Carlo sent Stuart racing free and the Scottish forward chipped the keeper, only to be pulled back for a marginal offside decision.

However, for all their possession CPR could not conjure up a goal before half-time, and indeed were lucky not to go in 4-0 down when the visitors’ no. 9 headed the ball over the bar with an empty goal gaping in front of him.

During the half-time talk there was a palpable belief that CPR could still get back into the game, and they came out all guns blazing in the second half. They quickly pinned Town back into their own penalty box and the away side started to lose their composure under the constant pressure.

The comeback was off and running when Carlo pulled down a cross from the right wing and hit a half-volley from the penalty spot which seemed to deceive the goalkeeper with its lack of pace. The ball ended up in the back of the net, and the game was on.

The goal gave CPR a huge boost and seemed to demoralise their opponents. CPR went straight for the jugular again, and spent the next 5 mins camped in the visitors’ half of the pitch. They came close to a second goal when Jon Murray hit a quick free kick down the inside-right channel for Stuart, who was just inches off target when he reached the ball and sent in a shot from a tight angle.

However, that was to prove just a dry run and the second goal followed a minute later. This time it was Simon who put Stuart free with a great ball down the right wing, and this time Stuart easily beat the keeper, sending in a shot from an acute angle which went in off the opposite post.

Just when it seemed as though CPR were all set to go on and dominate the match, Northern Town hit back with a vengeance. They attacked down their left wing, and the CPR defence were pulled too far over in the effort to clear the danger. When Town switched the ball to the opposite flank they found a midfielder running from deep and he raced into the box to beat Paul.

CPR refused to let this setback get to them, though, and continued to pile on the pressure. Stuart, Kenny and Jon Murray were all causing problems for Town’s back line, who were forced to concede a series of free kicks and corners to prevent CPR from cutting through to goal.

Despite Town’s height advantage they had been finding it difficult to cope with CPR’s inswinging deliveries, and it was from one such set-piece that CPR grabbed their third goal. Stuart fired in a corner from the right at a great pace, and Kenny ran in to meet it bang on. The ball screamed into the net, and CPR were just one goal behind.

CPR still had all of the play, but with the whole team concentrating on pushing forward there were gaps at the back which Northern Town sought to exploit on their rare breakaways. CPR had a real let-off when they were caught by another run from deep by Town’s right midfielder. He went straight through on goal but this time Paul Rogers won the clash, and his save set up CPR for another rally.

After another spell of solid pressure CPR forced the visitors into conceding a free-kick on the edge of the box. Stuart curled it to the keeper’s left, but didn’t quite hit it hard enough and it seemed as though the keeper would claim it. However, Alex dived across the box to meet the ball and his clever glancing header deflected the ball the opposite way, leaving the keeper flat-footed and helpless as that precious equalising goal bounced into the net behind him.

CPR strived manfully to get the winner, and they even had the ball in the net again but Andi Fulton’s fine strike was cancelled out as the ball had cannoned off Jon Murray’s hand in the build-up.

In the final 10 mins it looked as though both teams had run out of steam, not surprisingly given the dramatic nature of the match, and the chances petered out at either end. A point apiece was probably fair enough, with Norther Town’s direct, aggressive play balanced out by CPR’s more patient, passing football. The unbeaten run continues, thanks to an amazing second-half effort by the entire team.

Final score: CPR 4, Northern Town 4

Match Reporter: Garry Griffin