Albion Sports 1, Parkgate 1

LACKLUSTRE Albion Sports were held to a Toolstation Northern Counties East League draw by a hard-working Parkgate side on a cold winter afternoon at Throstle Nest.

The hosts started six places higher in the Premier Division table and were looking for the win that would have seen them break the 40-point barrier but the visitors were not cowed.

It was the only top-flight fixture to escape the bitter conditions after a week of snow, ice and then thawing sun but it did not warm the heart of Sports boss Kulwinder Sandhu.

He said: "I was very disappointed with the overall performance of the side, but I don't want to take anything away from Parkgate. They came here prepared to work hard and, because we failed to create in midfield, they were always in the game.

"We played ever so well when we beat Pickering Town away last week with some of our big players unavailable, so I wanted to stick by the lads that played. It could have worked because we missed some good chances.

"Parkgate deserved their equaliser and it was only in the last 15 to 20 minutes, after our subs had come on, that we really dominated. For most of the game we huffed and puffed without really worrying them."

A free-kick from Alex Cusack after just 62 seconds was Albion's first goal attempt but it set the tone for the day as it was blocked by a determined defence.

However, it did not take the home side much longer to break the deadlock. Matt Mathers opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a good finish after being found by a raking through ball over the visitors' defence by James Firth.

They had a chance to double their lead soon after but it all went wrong. Aran Basi picked the ball up in the area and, while attempting to round Parkgate keeper James Bailey, he reached his left leg out for some contact before going to ground and it resulted in a deserved yellow card from referee Michael Connell.

Andrew Dawson was causing the home defence some concern with his long throw-ins but goalkeeper Aaron Brian was rarely troubled – until he was beaten ten minutes before the break.

A good run by Ryan Johnson took him deep into the Albion area and he drilled a low cross through the six-yard box for the unmarked Dawson to fire high into the net at the far post.

The goal gave the visitors even more belief and they ended the half well, although Danny Facey could have restored the home side's lead in first-half stoppage time had it not been for Bailey's bravery.

Albion continued to toil against the well-organised Parkgate midfield and defence until the last 20 minutes, when Sandhu began to introduce his substitutes.

Lee Elam, Brice Tiani and Matty James made a big difference but Ferdinand Annur and Facey contrived to waste the plethora of chances created.