Depleted Fold grab a point

FOLD'S illness and injury-ravaged team recovered from being a goal down and also being reduced to ten men as they staged a cracking fight back.

A fully deserved victory would have been sealed five minutes from time but for the match officials deeming the ball hadn't crossed the goal line, when to all and sundry it did.

Having taken the criticism for the previous week's debacle on the chin the team responded in the perfect manner with a much improved performance that was only lacking the finishing touch in front of goal.

Two non-arrivals had left the squad depleted and although one call up was acquired it still left Fold with only two subs, plus two players had to start the game despite suffering from flu' symptoms.

Then when impressive midfielder Paul Lang failed to nreturn after the half time break due to the recurrence of a groin injury, quickly followed early in the second half by Keith Ingham and 'keeper Steve Crossley it meant Elton played the last half hour with a man fewer. By then they were one nil down, totally against the run of play as they had dominated proceedings in the first half. Lang and Stefan Shaw had run the central midfield area and supplied plenty of the ball to the wide men and forwards.

But no-one could get a final touch on the numerous balls played into the box, the nearest Fold came to breaking the deadlock was in the fifth minute when centre back Dave Wilkes crashed a volley against the crossbar.

Consequently the Salford side had hardly been in Fold's half but in the first half stoppage time the Division's leading scorer Jamie Shepley drove an unstoppable low shot past Crossley to give them the lead.

Fold's dressing room at half time resembled a chemist's shop as hot lemon drinks were in as much evidence as plasters and pain killing sprays, but the players came out for the second half in a determined mood but found Willows a more tougher proposition in this period. Shepley once again proved a danger as he smacked a shot against a post but Fold regained their composure only to find themselves down to ten men, which with the substitutions included four teenagers.

But the youngsters did the club proud as Anthony Lomax did a fine job down the right flank, as did Mark Slater in a three man defence.

John Armstrong was a constant menace down the left wing and the last of the quartet, John Price, showed his versatility as he shrugged off the sniffles to move from right midfield and accompany Steve Smith up front.

Their experienced colleagues also played their part as Martin Rayner took over between the posts and Wilkes moved up alongside Shaw to keep a tight grip in midfield.

Elton battled on bravely and were rewarded in the 76th minute when Smith and an opposing defender chased a ball that was heading for 'keeper Martin who panicked with his clearance, kicking it against his own player and Smith bundled both ball and 'keeper into the net and the goal was allowed to stand.

Fold now threw caution to the wind as they went all out for the winner and any thoughts of just getting men behind the ball to protect the point were non-starters.

Armstong whipped over some teasing crosses that no Fold player could get on the end, but in the 85th minute Price looked to have clinched the victory when his outstretched leg diverted the ball seemingly over the line.

A defender's knee kept it out as far as Armstrong, five yards out who blasted it against the underside of the bar, again it looked to have crossed the line as it came down.

Referee and his assistant couldn't decide and so Fold had to settle for a point at the end of a game they really deserved to win.

TEAM: Crossley 7, Wilkes 8, Doran 7, Dearden 7, Shaw 8, Price 9, Ingham 7, Armstrong 8, Smith 7, Rayner 7. Subs: Lomax 7, Slater 7.

The Reserves lost 3-1 to leaders New Mills Reserves. John Burke scored the goal.

Tomorrow Fold make the short journey to Sandgate Road for a local 'derby' against Prestwich Heys. The Reserves are at home to Pennington Reserves. Both kick-offs are at 2.30pm.