Northlew 3
Chulmleigh 3
THIS was always going to be tough for both sides who need points in their fight to stay in division 3.
Northlew battled straight from the start. Determined and direct, they opened the Chulmleigh defence several times before capitalising in the 12th minute when Nick Smith scored from an acute angle after Tim Hussey charged down a clearance.
Chulmleigh were fortunate to be level ten minutes later when they converted a dubious penalty, which gave keeper Carl Downs no chance.
The second half saw both sides going for the win. Northlew took the lead in the 58th minute when Neil Arthurs beat the Chulmleigh defence to crash the ball past a dumbfounded keeper.
Northlew were pressing for their third goal, but seemed to squander several good chances. The match was at boiling point with two Chulmleigh players booked and Northlew holding on. Chulmleigh's iron man, Rocky Stone, was like a monolith in midfield with Northlew's players taking turns to bounce off him.
Chulmleigh, throwing more men forward, finally broke down the Northlew defence to level the scores. Seconds later Chulmleigh scrambled in their third, but Northlew hit straight back with the equaliser where Hussey scored with a great first-time shot.
Man of the match: Simon Squire.
This Sunday home to Exmouth Amateurs reserved.