Ninety minutes of hard fought soccer couldn’t split Demon Knights and North Companions in their round three clash.
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Saturday’s encounter saw the sides finish with two apiece, which DK coach Evan Quaife described as an accurate scoreline for the level of intensity throughout.
"It was a very fast-paced game,” he said.
"Many players were cramping up at the end.
"In the first half they had a few chances there but Luke Birmingham in goals, he was man of the match for us.
"2-all for me, that was a probably a fair result for the whole game.
“They had a few chances in the first half but Birmingham was particularly good.”
Those chances included five one-on-ones with Birmingham but the goalkeeper was in fine touch and denied the hosts every opportunity, their only goal in the first half came through a penalty.
Northies held the lead 1-nil at the break but a penalty from the boot of Demon Knights’ Kirk Burton saw a momentum shift and the visitors were back in it.
Cal MacGregor was left an unmarked man and nailed a kick into the back of the net to put DK in the lead.
The home side scored the equaliser with a penalty three minutes out from fulltime.
Many predicted this season to be the closest competition yet and Saturday’s matches only added to that with one other finishing in a draw and only one point separating sides in the remaining two.
"Everyone is probably capable of beating everyone on their day, you just have to be up for each game and improve as the season goes on,” Quaife said.
"We will get better as the season goes on.
“We have had three or four out each game we have played and that means you have to drag others from reserves or other positions.”
DK will aim to land back in the winner’s circle this Saturday when they play last start victors Inverell.
"I don't know much about them but we will play them and see,” Quaife said.