It was the Yellow and Blues against the Red and Whites when two Northbank teams met on a sunny afternoon under clear blue skies on a 3G pitch at Harraby Sports Complex.

Both teams began the match level on 31 points and for the opening 58 minutes defences were on top with few scoring opportunities being created and neither goalkeeper being thoroughly tested.

The game was heading for a goalless draw. Then, with two minutes to go, the Yellow and Blues snatched all three points from a breakaway on their right, and a dangerous low centre into the area from Jamie Hodgson, resulted in Northbank’s central-defender Dan Turner diverting the ball into his own net for the only goal of the game.

Northbank 1970 had the better of the early exchanges, winning a couple of early corners on their left, taken by their captain Kian Storey, which were comfortably cleared by the Northbank defence.

Sonny Dickinson was working well on the 1970’s left-flank and created a scoring opportunity from a perfectly delivered centre, which was headed agonisingly wide by Jay Barrett.

Both teams were passing the ball out from the back through their respective midfields, but generally, the final ball was gobbled up by two shrewd and well organised defences.

Northbank won a free-kick some 25 yards out which came to nothing. Matty Baxter attempted a shot at goal but his shot was way off target.

Their attack then gained two unproductive corners, Dan Askew getting his head to the ball from each delivery but was unable to trouble 1970’s goalkeeper Callum Tiffin.

1970 made ground with a combined passing move involving Harry Reay, Barrett and Jay McKay, which unfortunately came to an end when the ball ran over the byline for a goal-kick.

Another slick move involving Dickinson, Reay and Storey ended with a shot from Reay which was just too high.

Northbank countered for Baxter to break through on goal, but the ball was scrambled clear by the combined efforts of 1970 central-defender Louis Coulthard and goalkeeper Tiffin.

1970 were soon back on the attack through Hodgson, whose deep cross was headed down by Barrett into a dangerous area, but a hefty clearance from Northbank keeper Hayden Bowes took the ball into the opposition half.

The Northbank keeper was again called into action to save a shot from McKay following a precise passing move involving Connor Marsden, Dickinson and Reay. 1970 gained a free-kick for a foul on Hodgson but Storey failed to get his shot on target.

Towards the end of the first half, Northbank were coming more into the game and Tiffin had to make a save from Baxter’s free-kick. Baxter then linked with Turner and Zander Trousdale but the move was broken up by some resilient defending from Coulthard and McKay.

Northbank were able to press forward due to the persistent tackling of Snelgar, Turner, Sam Rae and Jayden Butler but the 1970 defence held firm and half-time was reached with neither team able to find the net.

The first real chance in the second half fell to 1970 when a rare miskick from Turner allowed Reay a clear run on goal, but Snelgar was quick to spot the danger and his presence hurried the striker’s shot, and the ball flew over the bar. McKay was also too high with a free-kick which sailed over the top.

Northbank went on the attack, Rae finding Mason Rodda, but Coulthard was quick to come across and clear the ball into touch.

Baxter then took a free-kick for the home side, which was blocked by a defender and 1970 were able to breakaway through Reay, but once more the dogged Snelgar rescued his side with a successful tackle.

1970 again pushed forward for McKay to test Bowes with a shot on target following good combination play from Marsden, Reay and Dickinson.

Baxter’s long-range attempt from a free-kick was on target, but Tiffin was not to be beaten and he caught the ball in his safe pair of hands.

Baxter was again involved in a promising Northbank attack that also featured Turner and Trousdale, but the move was broken up by the 1970 defence.

A Northbank free-kick on the halfway line from Baxter had both power and direction, but once again Tiffin made a comfortable save.

Play continued to ebb and flow without any clearcut chances for either side, due to the domination of two sound defences, and a goalless draw looked odds-on, but with only two minutes remaining, 1970 made the breakthrough.

The ball was played to Hodgson, who raced clear on the right-flank to deliver a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box. Bowes went down to gather, whilst at the same time Turner - facing his own goal - slid in, attempting to make the clearance, not knowing who was behind him.

Unfortunately for Turner, his contact diverted the ball into his own net. It was a rare mistake for the central-defender who had played so well.

The Northbank players did their utmost to score, in the short time that was remaining, but there was no way through the opposition defence, and the three points went to Northbank 1970 who remain joint leaders of the league.