On Sunday 9th March Northallerton hosted high flying Redcar in the North Riding Women’s Premier League in what is historically a highly competitive game with bags of intensity, this was no exception.

Town started brightly with Hannah Stephenson coming close in the opening minute, however despite the early threat on the Redcar goal, it was the visitors who struck first, 8 mins played 1-0 down.

The response from Town was immediate, within a minute the ladies were level, Jess Pattison didn’t give the opposition midfield time to breathe, closing down to recover the ball and send Katie Boynton down the left flank, Boynton drove into the box, composed herself and fired a rocket past the Redcar GK.

Town playing a new formation today, continued to frustrate the Redcar attack and ask questions of their defence, time and time again. 3 minutes before HT, Town played from their own 6 yard to the back of the net with crisp precise passing, Captain Abbey Walker found Stephenson who played a teasing through ball to Hannah Bowe, Bowe won the race beating the defender snapping at her heels and the on rushing GK to slot home into an empty net.

Half Time - Town lead 2 goals to 1.

The message at the break was simple, same as the first 45.

The second half started with Redcar catching Town cold and burst down the wing beating the defender and squaring it to the striker to level it up. 2-2, 44 mins to play.

Both teams cancelled each other out as the game ebbed and flowed until the 80th min when Redcar found themselves behind our back line, appeals for offside where waved away by the referee, 3-2 down, 10 to play.

Town pushed for an equaliser and were caught out on the break when committing bodies high up the pitch, a great game for the neutrals, heartbreaking for Town who deserved something from a great battle.

Full Time - Town 2 - Redcar 4.

Managers Player this week goes to Jess Pattison, an outstanding performance in the middle of the park, ran her legs off and did all that was asked of her and more in very warm conditions for March. Well done Jess ? same again next week.

Jess is sponsored by Yorkshire's Finest Pet Food.