A ROUSING pre-match team talk by Bingley Bees skipper Ben Clough seemed to have fallen on deaf ears when the basement club trailed 2-0 to leaders Tadcaster Magnets six minutes into the second half of their Yorkshire Men's Division Four North clash at Bradford Grammar School.

The hosts hit back three minutes later via Robbie Manning but a minute later they were trailing 3-1 after a well-worked short-corner routine.

With both teams needing a win for different reasons, the clash between bottom and top was still being played at a blistering pace and the Bees had renewed hope when Michael Crawshaw netted what was the fourth goal in six minutes to make it 3-2.

Bingley continued to work hard and their comeback was completed when Jack Matthews equalised with four minutes left, although they still had to survive a last-minute short corner before picking up only their second point of the season.

The Bees still prop up the table but they are now only two points behind Halifax Thirds, who lost 9-2 at home to Harrogate Thirds.

Bingley's women's first team lost 1-0 at Chapeltown in the Yorkshire Premier Division, while the second team in Division Four – who are also second from bottom – drew 1-1 at home to Epworth, who are immediately above them.

New keeper Tina Harris was the key to the second string gaining a point, winning the player of the match award.

There were no goals until the final ten minutes when the Bees, who had some scary moments in defence, paid the price for a poor decision at the back.

However, inspired by gutsy midfielder Sarah Eaton, the hosts levelled via a calm finish from right midfielder Cath Wood.