The visitor’s settled quickly and with just over a minute on the clock, Joe Wood went down on the edge of the box as Ollie Grady and Connor Green looked to challenge. In truth, there looked to be minimal contact but the referee saw enough to give the visitor’s a free kick in a dangerous position. Anees Younis’s whipped the ball around the wall and Levi Owen, in the Town goal, had to be alert to tip the ball over the bar. Much to the visitors surprise, a goal kick was awarded.

Ollerton’s first attack came in the fifth minute when Sam Geeves shot wide after good approach play from Gavin King and Ben Partridge.

With 17 minutes gone, Alfie Proctors cross from the left was headed back across goal by Alex Haigh into the path of Danny Edwards whose volley was hit straight at Owen who saved easily.

A minute later another Nostell attack ended when a shot by Louis Penny-Larter flashed across the face of goal, and out for a goal kick.

Despite the better of the early chances falling the way of the visitors, Ollerton had enjoyed plenty of possession and, on the half hour mark, they made that possession count by taking the lead.

Joe Lumley played a long ball forward which Lloyd Allison in the Nostell goal could only partially clear. The loose ball was picked up by Ollie Grady who played a neat one-two with King before beating Allison and defender Brett Smith to make it 1-0 to Ollerton.

Five minutes before half time, King looked to have broken clear, but Younis got back to block his effort, with Joseph O’Neill completing the clearance.

That was the last chance of the half and Ollerton went into the break leading 1-0.

Town’s lead lasted barely a minute into the second half. Haigh played the ball forward to Younis, who broke clear of the Ollerton defence before squaring the ball to Edwards, who beat Owen to equalise for Nostell.

In the 56th minute, King was fouled by O’Neill 20 yards from goal. The Town striker took the free kick but his effort sailed over the bar without troubling Allinson.

With 65 minutes gone, Ollerton had a penalty appeal turned down after Partridge ran onto Geeves through ball, and was seemingly knocked over by Smith. Replays show there was certainly contact made as Smith barged Partridge in the back, but the referee waved away Town protests.

Midway through the half, Town went close once again. Lewis Murr played the ball in to Grady who turned and passed the ball back to Murr who saw his shot flash past the Nostell post.

Back came Nostell and Younis played in substitute Nathan Perks, who saw his effort saved by Owen.

With 72 minutes on the clock, Owen came to Ollerton’s rescue again, saving well from Larter after he was played in by Perks.

A minute later, substitute Lewis Pickering received the ball and dribbled into the Town penalty area before lifting his shot over the bar.

With 14 minutes left, Kings header from Murr’s corner was cleared of the line by O’Neill before the loose ball was hacked away.

Partridge almost worked his way through with 8 minutes left, but after a strong run into the box, his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

With time almost up, Ollerton almost stole the points when Partridge played in King, who timed his run perfectly. the Ollerton striker ran into the box, and was just about to shoot when Younis, out of nowhere, got a foot in to divert the ball behind for a corner.

That proved to be the final chance and the sides left the field with the score at 1-1, and the points shared.

Words by Nigel Owen | Photos by Jazz Owen and Richard Parkes