Sylvans 2, North 2

NORTH grabbed a point out west and will be devastated that they did not leave blustery St Peter’s with three. The normally deadly Dudley Boscher spur-ned a gilt-edged one-on-one opportunity with 10 minutes left, but uncharacteristically shot over the bar with just goalkeeper Craig Mollet to beat.

The visitors had twice gallantly battled back after going behind but both coaches were happy to settle for a point at the end.

Matt Drillot, skipper John Nobes and Tony Vance all went close as Sylvans opened brightly with the wind at their backs, but they did not have to wait long for their lead.

Geoff Tardif’s youthful side began nervously and were punished when they failed to deal with Paul Nobes’ long throw to the back post which the lively Neil Clegg headed home.

Just after the half-hour mark Nobes went close with a shot that just cleared the bar, then he was booked by referee Matt Walsh for fouling Darren Martin.

With half time approaching Clegg robbed Micky Wilson but shot straight at former Sylvan Paul de Garis.

Sylvans should have gone in at the break at least two goals up and Exall should have converted Matt Warren’s excellent delivery into the box, but shot over from close range.

North came out for the second period playing more directly and positively and they were rewarded after just two minutes.

Ollie McKenzie’s free kick to the back post was nodded in by the diminutive but highly-talented Kyle Stone.

On the hour, Dave Rihoy, last season’s Priaulx players’ player-of-the-year, made his long-awaited return from injury for North by replacing Stone and he had an instant impact on the gamem, his dangerous free-kick from the left cleared to safety by Ian Potter.

Veron went close after latching on to de Garis’ long punt upfield then Clegg shot just over at the clubhouse end after a marauding run by Matt Drillot.

With 22 minutes left the returning Matt Le Cras was brought down 10 yards outside the penalty area.

Paul Nobes made North pay by bending a venomous left-footed free kick into the left hand corner that no goalkeeper in the world would have kept out.

His piece of magic to make it 2-1 was worth the entrance money alone. Two minutes later Craig Le Prevost replaced the injured Warren and Vinnie de Carteret came on for Exall.

Rihoy almost scored before playing an influential part in his side’s equaliser by laying on the ball for Veron to lash home low past Mollet from the edge of the box.

Most spectators would have put a bet on bookie Boscher grabbing North the lead when he raced clear shortly after coming on as sub and he will be relieved the TV cameras were not there to witness his miss.

But Sylvans had chances to win it, too.

Le Prevost almost knocked in John Nobes’ cross and de Garis saved Clegg’s effort.

Rihoy shot into the side netting after latching on to Darren Martin’s excellent defence splitting pass then Ben Duff headed a Rihoy corner against the crossbar.

Four minutes into injury time Mollet denied North a winner with a cracking save from Antony Saunders who had capitalised on a defensive slip.

‘In the long run I will take a point – we have not lost,’ said Sylvans’ boss Joel Avery.

‘I knew it would be a game of two halves with the wind, but we should have been 4-0 up at half-time. We could not take those chances and we knew we would be under the cosh second half but we still managed to pan out some good chances.’

Tardif was pleased with his young guns.

‘I think Sylvans were happier to hear the final whistle than we were.’