Gunnedah's Jayden Bender, Noah Davis and Ash Garnham all played a pivotal role as the Northern Inland under-12s staged a stunning fightback to share the points with SAP Metro League leaders Macquarie Football Blue in their clash at Scully Park on Sunday.
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Down 3-nil at half-time the home side found their rhythm in the second half, Adam Davis' boot providing the initial spark to get them back in the contest.
He then made it a one-goal game in the first couple of minutes of the final quarter, before Bender put away a nice cross from [Noah] Davis to level the scores at 3-all with 13 minutes remaining.
"It was a great ball," coach Matt Endemi said of Davis' cross, adding that it was something they had spoken to him about at half-time.
"We said we want you to win the ball and get the ball across into the middle and it came off," he said.
They did have to weather a late storm but were able to keep the visitors at bay, Garnham making some crucial saves in goals.
Endemi remarked in his improvement.
"From the first game to this game he's really applied himself and is making some great saves," he said.
"He's not an actual goalkeeper but in the last couple of year's he's put his hand up to do it."
A midfielder up until then, he said he is "an 80 per cent better goalkeeper than he was this time last year".
Beaten 3-1 the first time they played Macquarie, Sunday's draw followed on from a 1-all draw at the recent State Championships at Coffs Harbour, where Northern Inland finished runners-up, and was "a great result" Endemi said.
The only thing he could fault was their start.
"It took us a quarter to get going," he said.
He said it was a "massive effort" from the boys after three tough days of football the previous weekend. Many of them were still tired from it.
"Very proud of the way the guys played," he said.
He said the discussion going into the final quarter centered around possession.
"Basically just keeping possession, winning the ball and getting the ball forward to our strengths and it came off," Endemi said.
Sitting sixth currently, he feels they are building well.
"It's our first year. These guys it's all new to them, but from the first game to half-way mark now these guys are definitely building towards better footballers," he said.
"They're all improving as footballers and as a team and I believe on any given day we can beat any team in this competition."
They will be hoping to snare their fourth win this Sunday when they take on Macquarie Black, who sit three points below them on the table.
