Kyle Levell's penalty miss on the stroke of halftime was a golden chance for the northerners to take the lead. Photo / File
Kyle Levell's penalty miss on the stroke of halftime was a golden chance for the northerners to take the lead. Photo / File
A goalkeeping masterclass has prevented the Northland FC men's first team from taking home an all-important win as they drew 0-0 with Albany United on Friday.
The game, held at BaySport grounds in Waipapa, was the northlanders' third consecutive clean sheet in the Lotto NRFL second division competition but theirsecond nil-all draw in two weeks.
In contrast, the Northland FC reserve side continued their dominant form in the second division reserve grade as they recorded their third win from three games after beating Albany United reserves 1-0.
The first team's uninspiring 0-0 result the week before against Greenhithe Catimba clearly motivated Northland to attack Albany United's defensive structure with impetus - and it was effective, as the hosts created the majority of the goal-scoring chances in the game.
But Albany United goalkeeper Ben Masters was imperious in the first half, first thwarting Northland's Mark Prowse from close range after an incisive move which caught the visitors out cold.
On the stroke of halftime Johnny Fletcher, who was a Northland player for the last two seasons but is now at Albany, was judged to have handled in the box following a corner and the referee pointed to the spot.
Northland's Kyle Levell hit the ball hard and low to Masters' right but the keeper pulled off a full-stretch diving save to keep the score level. The second half saw the boys in blue probe for openings and stretch the visitors with no fewer than four attempts on target but to no avail.
"I think [Albany United] were a good team but we were much better in terms of playing forward, we really took the game to them and stretched them in the wide areas," head coach Owen Liiv said.
Liiv hoped the two draws wouldn't worry his team, who still showed good signs going into one of the competition's busy periods.
"We didn't compromise any of the solidity that we have had for the last three weeks, but ultimately couldn't find our way past an inspired goalkeeper.
"When you haven't scored in a while it maybe becomes a bit of a mental block, although the signs were encouraging for next week."
The first team will play Onehunga Mangere on Thursday at Mangere Domain 1 at 2.30pm before taking on Claudelands Rovers at Galloway Park 1 on Saturday at 3pm.
Local Chatham Cup preliminary round results and fixtures
Results:
Kaeo-Inter 4 beat Internationale 3
Fixtures (all played on Thursday at 2pm):
Kerikeri vs Manukau City at BaySport Waipapa Bohemian Celtic vs Onerahi at Colin Maiden Park Te Atatu vs FC Whangārei at Te Atatu Peninsula Park
