Albury City hangs tough to pick up a vital point away to Boomers

City hit the front inside three minutes thanks to a tap in at the back post to Seb Berkhout after a lapse in Boomers' defence.

However, Boomers wrestled back the momentum as Kye Halloway equalised from close range in the bottom corner after the City defence failed to clear a cross.

The hosts dominated possession for the remainder of the half and put a number of dangerous crosses into the box, largely to no avail.

City keeper Lachie James produced some top saves but he was no match for a scorching volley from Noah Spiteri on the stroke of half-time.

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A free kick was blocked and put back in by Halloway to Pieter Noordewier before it fell to Spiteri who nailed the strike to give his side a 2-1 buffer at the break.

Boomers lost that momentum in the second half and neither side created a clear-cut chance for the first 20 minutes until City flicked the switch.

A brilliant tackle from Aaron Young won the ball back for City, and, after a great cross from Obi Eze, they were level with 20 to play thanks to Pat Brown.

City looked a like a different side and continued to press, but Boomers almost went back ahead in the final minute when James made a top save to deny Kye Halloway one-on-one before a long-range effort from Brown was tipped over the bar by Matt Mildren.

Boomers coach Andrew Grove said his side lacked intensity after a good first half.

"Pretty much after the fifth minute we dominated the first half and got one back and got a second, but we didn't go on with it," he said.

"We had all the play, but our last pass just wasn't sharp, which I guess comes from not playing for so long.

"We were good, but just not quite where we need to be to finish games.

"Typical Albury City, if you don't finish them off they'll always come back at you."

City coach Ricky Piltz felt his side came into the contest flat but was pleased with the way they hung in.

"Aaron Young made a couple of big tackles that really changed the pace of the game in our favour and resulted in a goal and from there we looked a lot more comfortable," he said.

"Boomers came at us in the first half, but to the boys credit we did just enough to keep ourselves in the game and that's all we needed coming into the second half.

"Once we started to make two or three passes it looked like we were playing our game instead of chasing them around the field."

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