BOROUGHBRIDGE 3 ROTHELL ATHLETIC 3
The only thing to spoil this enthralling encounter was the state of the Boroughbridge pitch when the referee eventually decided to call it a day after the first period of extra time.
Bridge were entertaining Rothwell for the second time in a month and once more the visitors belied their lowly League position with the quality of their play. The game was only nine minutes old when Craig Ingham picked up a loose ball following poor control from Walbrook to put Johnny Grayshon clear and his first time shot gave Hogg no chance. Hogg then saved the day by saving at the feet of Grayshon when he was left exposed from a long clearance and minutes later the keeper was there again to push an Ingham effort round the post. A Rothwell defender was then lucky to see his header ricochet off his own bar but on 31 minutes Bridge levelled when Andy Hitchen got himself confused with his penalty area line and his hurried clearance was picked up by Paul Vincent who fired home from fully 40 yards.  Ingham the combined with Andy Hall to again test Hogg whilst at the other end Andy Tringham fired inches wide and Baz O'Neill delayed his shot when well placed. O'Neill certainly learnt his lesson and when given an opportunity two minutes into the second half his crisp left foot shot from the edge of the box gave Hitchin no chance. It took the visitors just eight minutes to get back on terms when a incisive five man move left Ingham with a simple far post header and on 77 minutes Kevin Cawood put them in front following a corner. With no sign of the incessant rain abating and the conditions rapidly deteriorating into farcicality Andy Tringham equalised for Bridge with ten minutes remaining and right on time the state of the pitch denied Ben Darville a potential winner. Despite water standing on the pitch the game continued into extra time and Hogg produced another superb save to thwart Tom France whilst at the other end Andy Layton failed to connect with a free header. With poor light now allied to the dangerous conditions both captains in conjunction with the referee decided to call it a day.
MOM Alastair Hogg