WHALLEY RANGE...2 OLD STANDIANS...2: IT seemed as if someone had forgotten to tell Old Standians first team that the season has started after the showing given on Saturday afternoon, away against Whalley Range.

After a stalemate first 20 minutes, Standians summer signing Chris Gatcliffe opened the scoring, after a great cross field delivery from Adam O'Shaughnessy.

However, Range hit back with two quick goals.

The first saw the home striker break the Standians off side trap to tuck the ball home.

And, the second was a sweetly struck 20-yard free kick.

Standians began to win the midfield battles after Range had took the lead and their efforts were rewarded by a fine goal, again scored by Gatcliffe five minutes before half time.

Gatcliffe beat three defenders before bravely sliding in to poach his second Standians goal.

It was in the second half when Standians let their game plan slip.

Sloppy midfield play and poor link up with the two forwards saw Standians on the back foot for most of the second half.

Neither side looked like they would break the deadlock until the Range forward hit the deck in the penalty area in the 85th minute and was rewarded with a penalty.

However, the spot kick was saved by Standians keeper Paul Hinchy.

Standians striker Chris Atkinson narrowly steered a Yeates cross over the Range bar in stoppage time, resulting in a point each for the two sides.

STANDIANS: Hinchy, Jones, Banks (Seaborn), O'Neill, O'Shaughnessy (Doble), Meakin, Yeates, Riley (Brady), Healy, Atkinson, Gatcliffe.