Wirral's independent local news website
Cammell Laird 1907 FC entertained mid-table Eccleshall on Saturday and both teams had to contend with freezing temperatures and driving rain but provided a hard-fought encounter in front of the hardy souls who attended.
Lairds began the game brightly but a breakaway by the visitors was poorly defended and Ryan Malbon put them ahead in the 19th Minute, as he blasted home a shot from the underside of the bar.
Unperturbed, Lairds fought back and following a Joe Downey corner the ball was headed back across goal and Ross Waring powered home a great headed equaliser on 21 minutes.
Good defending by Dean Nunn stifled the few attacks by Eccleshall as lairds fought hard to regain the lead and captain Ryan Smith along with Mike Speed helped the home side to keep the visitors on the back foot.
This inspired Lairds to take the lead again five minutes after Waring’s equaliser, as Joe Downey won a midfield exchange to break clear and rifle home a superb 25-yarder, leaving the goalie with no chance, to put Lairds in the driving seat.
Chances went begging for both teams for the remainder of the half, but Lairds deserved to be ahead at the break. HT 2-1.
Yet another slow start at the beginning of the second period saw the visitors level the scores when indecision from a corner by Jordan Flatley saw the corner kick sail into the far corner of the net unchallenged.
The game became an end-to-end affair, but Lairds will be annoyed at the missed opportunities they created but will be thankful for a spirited performance in gaining a point in this 2-2 draw that could easily have been a win.
Next up for Lairds is the away game versus high-flying Brocton FC on Tuesday evening for a 7.45pm kick off.
That game is followed by another away trip to Cheadle Heath Nomads on Saturday 18 March for a 3.00pm kick off.
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