Northampton Town Under 18s drew 1-1 at home to Stevenage in the final fixture of their EFL Youth Alliance League South East season on Saturday morning.
Liam Cross’ ninth goal of the campaign in the second-half earned a point for the young Cobblers.
Lead Youth Development Phase Coach Shane Goddard made two changes to the team that beat Milton Keynes Dons the previous week as Dylan Berry and Kieran Watkins-Robinson replaced Charlie Woods and Miguel Ngwa in the line up.
Both sides made slow starts, especially the hosts, who fell behind 17 minutes in when a free-kick from the edge of the area hit the post and the rebound was placed into the empty net.
The visitors almost doubled their lead 10 minutes later when an attacker cut in from the right and dragged his shot wide of the far post.
The Cobblers youngsters improved in the second period and were back on level terms 10 minutes into the half when Cross’ low shot from the edge of the box deflected into the bottom corner.
Berry made two important saves to keep the scores equal in the last 20 minutes. He denied a shot from a tight angle before tipping over a powerful half-volley soon after.
Substitute Jack Connor led a counter-attack and played Tommy Curry in, but the winger's effort went wide of the near post and the match ended level.
Starting XI - Berry (GK); Bailey (C), Tomlinson, Dyche, Lashley; Hill (sub Lack, 67), Cross, Abimbola (sub Scott, 81); Watkins-Robinson (sub Connor, 62), O'Keefe, Curry. Subs - Dadge (GK), Gilbert.
Goal - Cross (1-1, 55).
Assist - Curry (1-1, 55).
Booking - Dyche (accumulation).