Saints End Losing Streak With A Point

Willington ended a run of five straight defeats with a point at home to Spittal who made the long Wednesday night trip a memorable one as there bare eleven put in a great shift to earn a draw.

Saints top scorer Joe Connor was missing with a hamstring injury whilst Kenny Horsman was absent and Dan Coleman only arriving in time to be on the bench. David Smith, Dale Johnson and Mark Wilkinson replacing them.

The first chance of the game fell to Ryan Ferrier who ws denied by a decent stop by Mason in the Spittal goal after a free kick had landed on a plate for him 8 yards out.

Spittal looked lively with 16 year old Craig Bell causing problems with his pace, his left foot drive sailing just wide of Peter Lowerys post.

Spittals next attempt sailed right into the top corner, Luke Strangeways picked the ball up on the right wing before cutting inside and unleashing a thunderbolt into the top left hand corner from 25 yards leaving Lowery no chance.

Leon Elgie the Saints young centre half limped off with an injury Coleman coming on to replace him with Smith moving to centre half

The visitors ended the half on top with the Saints lucky to onlt be 1-0 down after a poor first half.

Andy Breheny came off at half time to be replaced by Jack Dixon n a tactical move that saw Matty Adams move into midfield and Stephen Kingy go in at centre half

The move paid off ten minutes into the second half as Adams equalized with his first league goal of the season, Karl Charlton found space down the left before curling in an inch perfect cross that Adams met with a fine volley to power the ball home from 8 yards out, a handball in the build up was somehow missed by the referee.

Rovers responded in fine style as they went ahead for the second time, a right wing cross was deflected into the path of the prolific Paul Wood and his neat touch and finish from 6 yards gave his side the lead.

Gareth Pugh was sent on for Wilkinson as the Quay looked to get back into the game for the second time and with 14 minutes remaining they did in identical fashion to their first goal, Charlton sent in another peach of a cross and Ferrier rose highest to power home a header from close range.

The energetic Craig Bell almost restored the Rovers lead for a third time but his right foot effort went across goal and just wide of the post after a great run.

With time running out and Spittal's eleven men tiring the Saints pressed for a winner but to no avail first the referee pulled the game back for a foul when the Quay were in a great position and lastly when Ferrier broke free down the left but his strike from an angle was well saved by the legs of Mason.

A point ended a run of defeats for both sides with the Quay much better in the 2nd half hopefully they can take that into the first half of the next game away to Cramlington United this Saturday.