BACK FROM THE BRINK

Northend miss a great opportunity for a win as Maze turn it round in second half

IN what was the proverbial game of two halves, Lower Maze came back from two goals down at the break to beat Northend United 4-2 in this under-15 basement battle.

A Pearse Esler cross was finished off by Jamie Montgomery to put Northend ahead in the opening ten minutes.

Mateusz Las gained possession in his own half and outpaced the defence for the second goal after 20 minutes and United should have been further ahead at the break.

They paid for missed chances early in the second half when Ben Wright struck from outside the box at a corner kick immediately after the restart.

Bailey Irvine was well placed to tap home a second and Ashley Bodeham found the roof of the net from outside the area for the third.

Ben Wright, who had started the Maze fightback finished it with his own second goal, chipping the keeper when set up by Irvine.

Maze boss James Spence said the early goal in the second half set up the team for a good finish after a poor first half.

He said: “They played really well as a team in the second half and hopefully it has given us the confidence for the rest of the season.”

Northend manager Stephen Mclees was delighted with their first half display but thought they should have scored several more goals.

He added: “We did not come out for the second half. Our main problem is scoring goals.”