Late strikes from two Wythenshawe Town heroes of last season gave Atherton Collieries a vital point in their continued quest for NPL West safety on Saturday.
The home team started in express train mode as they adapted to the lively surface immediately and the Colls’ rearguard was given a torrid time. It was mainly spirited Sol Honor keeping that kept Michael Clegg’s team on parity.
Colls eventually caught their breath and began to get foothold in the fixture and Scott Bakkor scored what looked like a goal-of-the-season contender. He controlled a raking ball in perfectly, eased off his marker before volleying past a shocked Craig Ellison. However, the assistant’s flag was raised and the healthy away following’s demeanour changed from joy to anger in a heartbeat. To understate, a rather contentious flag waft.
Town took the lead with the last tangible action of the stanza when Jacob Blyth applied the finishing lob as defence was turned to attack clinically.
Colls were a lot more creative after the break. Ellison bravely rebuffed a point-blank clearance from one of his defenders with his face and then showed good agility to narrowly beat Tom Bentham to a tasty Will Riding centre.
Against the run of play, Wythy went up the other end to double their advantage and seemingly put the game to bed.
Former Scotland international, George Boyd, showed tremendous poise and no little skill to weave his way into the box before slotting past the oncoming Honor. It was his 14th league goal of the campaign and his second quality finish against the Black and White Stripes.
Bakkor was a danger all afternoon but his wretched luck continued when he thundered one against Ellison’s post.
Then, on 84 minutes, the deficit was reduced. Aaron Dwyer was upended on the edge of the box and the resulting free-kick took an age to take following some unnecessary histrionics by a Town player. Riding kept his focus throughout as he expertly guided the ball over the wall and into the far corner - game on.
Minutes later it was 2-2. After a bout of head tennis, Bentham was Johnny on the spot to break the net almost to spark zealous celebrations.
An adrenaline-fuelled encounter fit for Non League Day had ended all square.
It was a stellar Colls comeback to wrestle a point from a quality opponent. Riding and Bentham returned to Ericstan Park and deservedly got their names up in lights in a never-say-die team display.
This Saturday, Nantwich Town visit the Dreams2Reality Stadium for another interesting match-up where Colls will be looking for revenge after the 2-0 defeat in Cheshire last November (3pm).
