WITH many of the other Blue Square North teams in FA Trophy action, Droylsden missed an opportunity to keep the pressure on leaders Southport with this disappointing draw at Marston Road.

Despite coming back from a goal down to lead with 13 minutes remaining, the Bloods will consider this as two precious points dropped.

Playing on a surface more akin to a Sunday morning, Dave Pace’s men struggled to get their game going in the first half, and at one point were thankful for a splendid penalty save by Paul Phillips, only for daydreaming a moment later allowing the home side to take the lead.

The dangerous Nick Wellecomme headed off target in the early stages for the hosts, but Droylsden began to create some half-chances, with a Tony Gray deflected free kick being saved, a Tom Field shot being blocked after a good run by Gray, and a Shaun Whalley effort flying way off target.

However, on 37 minutes, on-loan Lithuanian striker Henrik Ojamaa darted into the box only to be hauled down by a clumsy challenge from Alex Brown. Tom Thorley stepped up to the spot kick, but Phillips saved with a dive to his right.

However, the back-patting only lasted a minute before Levi Reid was allowed time and space to pick his spot past Phillips, much to the Droylsden custodian’s understandable annoyance.

The Bloods gave a much better account of themselves after the break and took the game to their hosts.

Neil Prince went close but Droylsden struck level on 73 minutes, and lady luck was on their side.

Shaun Whalley made inroads in the inside left channel, and seemed to take the ball too far wide, but he struck the ball firmly across the face of goal only for it to fly in the goal off the unfortunate Jermaine Johnson.

Maybe with Stafford unsettled, Droylsden went for the jugular, and took the lead three minutes later when Tony Gray brought down a high ball in the box.

It fell invitingly for Paul Brown, who hammered a left-footed first time shot inside the post to give Evans no chance.

That should have been sufficient for victory, but Stafford had other ideas and made an effective triple substitution that had Droylsden on the back foot for much of the remaining period.

Their endeavours paid dividends on the stroke of full-time, when a Steve Halford trip resulted in the awarding of a second penalty of the afternoon to Stafford, and this time they made no mistake, with Fabrice Kasiama stroking home off the inside of the post.

Prince almost stole the points deep into added time, but his thunderbolt that was destined for the top corner took a slight deflection to leave honours even.

Attendance: 363

Gary Owen

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