Nortel put in a gritty performance in today's Steel & Sons second round game at Wilgar Park as they forced Sirocco to extra time.

Nortel forced the early pace with the home keeper called to action with a double save from Conlin and then Butler.

At the other end McMahon in the Nortel goal tipped a goal bound shot around the post as the game swung from end to end with both teams working hard for the opener.

On 22 minutes the breakthrough came from the away side as Moore headed home from a deep Conlin cross.

Moore almost made it two a minute later when a curling shot beat the keeper but slipped the wrong side of the post.

Sirocco came close to leveling the scores on 35 minutes when after a goalmouth scramble Phil McMahon hooked the ball off the line and away to safety.

Just before the end of the half Craig McMahon produced a tremendous point blank save when the home center forward found himself clear to send Nortel in at the break with their lead intact.

Half time 1-0

The second half as expected saw the home side push hard for the equalizer and it almost came in the 56th minute when Abraham was judged to have fowled Mannus inside the area with the ref pointing to the spot.

Mannus dusted himself down to take the spot kick only for McMahon to dive to his right and push the ball to safety.

This was only a temporary respite however as the same player made amends for his earlier miss by heading in at the back post on 58 minutes.

Nortel almost regained the advantage on 67 minutes when a Blair drive was pushed onto the bar by the home keeper.

Butler was next to go close with an effort just wide whilst at the other end McMahon was having a fine game in the Nortel goal.

Full time 1-1

Extra time saw the pace drop as both teams started to tire in the incessant rain with the first period pretty uneventful.

The second period saw the home side take the lead when a Stitt drive took a slight deflection giving McMahon no chance.

Nortel thought they had squared the game when Butler headed home a Dickson free kick only for the referee to disallow for an infringement.

That proved to be the last meaningful action of an entertaining open game that surely must give manager McMahon some encouragement with his sides performance.

AET time 1-2

Team

McMahon

McLeod Kyle McMahon Doyle

Conlin Blair Dickson Abraham

E Moore Butler

Subs Young for Abraham

Baillie for Moore

Goal Moore

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