North West Counties League Division Two

Norton United 1 Stand Athletic 1

THE league's new boys met for the first time in a highly competitive game at Norton's Community Drive ground.

Both these sides were champions in their respective leagues last season, and without stating the obvious, this certainly was a game of two halves, with a draw, on reflection, being a fair result.

Stand will still feel disappointed not to have won this match, such are the standards they have set this season, but, in the end, Norton were no pushovers and a late surge by the home side certainly had the visitors on the rack.

It was so different in the first half as Stand played like the league leaders they are, constant early pressure handing them a bagfull of chances.

Stuart Telfer was the first to break clear and go close after five minutes, then Lee Wilkinson had a virtual open goal at his mercy and missed. In the 10th minute Simon Hannon went on a surging run, but failed to find the right spot. Then, on 22 minutes, Norton goalkeeper Paul Stanway produced a stunning, close-range save from Chris Denham.

Wilkinson was guilty of missing two more good chances on 25 and 35 minutes and, such was Stand's dominance, Norton must have been preparing to try and keep the score down after the interval.

In all fairness, this match should have been over and done with by the time referee Mr Turner had blown for half-time.

The start of the second half seem destined to follow the first, as Stand pushed hard to get the opening goal.

Then, only two minutes into the second period, Chris Denham fouled and not for the first time!

The kick from just outside the Norton box, was floated in by Mickey Bartholomew onto the head of centre half Billy McCartney who steered his header home into the opposite corner.

This should have been the call for Stand to ram home the advantage, but the Burslem side, knowing that if they didn't dig deep and find something quickly, an avalanche could descend, must have taken heart when, two minutes later, their captain, Andrew Kean, rattled the Stand crossbar.

It wasn't long before Stand goalkeeper Tommy Allen was brought into action. First tipping John Mayer's cross over the bar, then producing another top class save to tip Dean Owen's fierce shot round a post as Norton began to take a grip of the game.

Stand now relied on quick breaks, with Chris Denham and Stuart Telfer using their pace to best effect, but still Norton pushed forward and on 80 minutes got their reward.

Mayer crossed from the right after another one of Mr Turner's dubious decisions had given the home side a free-kick.

The cross was met by the unmarked David Hobain who gleefully headed home.

For the next ten minutes the match could have gone either way, which, in the end, was a fair appraisal of an entertaining and hard-fought game.

STAND ATHLETIC: Allen, Telfer, Denham M, Anderson, McCartney, Gallagher, Stott, Denham C, Wlkinson, Bartholomew, Hannon, Sub: Davis for Hannon, Referee Mr S. Turner. Stand's assistant manager, Nick Woods, said after the match: "A point was probably about right, but we should have built on our lead, but to be disappointed about getting a point away from home, shows just how much this side has achieved.

"Most teams would settle for a point at Norton, so to be unhappy about not getting three speaks volumes."

This Saturday, Stand entertain Darwen at Ewood Bridge with boss Nick Davis hoping to recall Neil Dawes back to the squad after missing the match with a virus.

Darwen, a former Football League club, are just below halfway and their results have been a mixture of good and bad.

This game is a local derby, so all the ingredients will be there for a good game.

Another home game to put in your diary, Stand have been given a league fixture on Tuesday November 27 when Alsagar Town are the visitors, however Stand v Darwen is a 3pm kick-off. More details on 07950 102307.