By Rhianna Davies and Tobias Hunt
USW 3rd saved their blushes by rescuing a draw against USW 4th – but it could have been a whole lot worse for the higher ranked team.
The thirds trailed 0-1 at half-time to a 23rd minute strike by Adam Kaplan who was quickest to react when Ryan Murunga’s shot rebounded off the goalkeeper.
A clutch of good chances were squandered by the thirds in the opening 45 minutes, with JJ Ogugua and captain Alex Bevan both denied.
And after Murunga’s goal had stunned them, David Ings wasted a glorious opportunity just before half-time as frustration grew.
The thirds, clearly stung, started the second half in blistering manner. They carved out numerous chances within the opening five minutes, with Mickey Wicherek’s chip over the goalkeeper going narrowly wide.
Wicherek was in the thick of the action moments later after being played through with just the keeper to beat, but Dan Thomas pulled off a superb save.
On the hour mark fourths defender Ryan Quinn lunged into a challenge and brought down Ogugua, giving the striker the chance to score from the penalty spot which he duly did, sending the keeper the wrong way.
While the thirds pressed to find the goal that would nudge them ahead, more misery soon found them when a fourths counter-attack ended with striker Redd Pratley brilliantly finding the top corner.
Fearing something of an embarrassment the third responded with increased intensity and when a Danny Maguire free-kick found Bevan, his pass across the box was diverted home by Rion Mignott for 2-2.
Wicherek might have won it for the thirds at the death, but his strike went narrowly wide.
Moments later their pressure told as Danny Maguire put in an excellent ball from a free kick into Alex Bevan who squared the ball across the six-yard box for Rion Mignott to tap in.
The 3rds came close to winning the game at the death when Wicherek’s strike went agonisingly wide which was the last action of a pulsating game.