ST AUSTELL 1

WENDRON UNITED 1

HAVING demolished St Austell 4-0 in division one of the South West Peninsula League just a week previously, Wendron United were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw by the struggling home side.

Even then it needed a late goal to prevent the Lillywhites from claiming their first victory of the season, but the point maintains United's healthy mid-table position.

The home side played much better than the previous week, but after dominating much of the first and all of the second half Wendron will see this as two points dropped.

There was little to choose between the sides in the opening stages, but St Austell took the lead in the 18th minute following a Wendron attack. A quick free kick was rolled to Jeff Till, but his cross only reached the edge of the box from where it was cleared upfield. Glenn Patterson was left in a one-on-one position and he took full advantage to drill his low shot past Mark James.

Mike O'Neill had an early opportunity to grab an equaliser when he got on the end of Peter Maclean's pass, but just as he was about to unload he was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle.

Minutes later O'Neill was again unlucky. He cut inside from Gary Pascoe's pass and hit a stinging shot that goalkeeper Steve Raven could only parry, but Sean Johnston's follow-up shot failed to hit the target.

Another good opportunity was missed in the 30th minute when Johnston found Matt McIlroy unmarked at the far post, but with just the 'keeper to beat he screwed his shot wide of the post.

Wendron continued to create chance after chance and in the 37th minute Johnston was put clear by O'Neill, but although his shot beat the 'keeper it was just wide of the post.

The second half mirrored the first with Wendron well on top and St Austell relying on the odd breakaway but without looking too threatening.

A corner by Johnston was cleared to the edge of the box where McIlroy met it, but his first-time shot was cleared off the line.

Controversy raged on the hour when Glynn Hobbs ran on to an O'Neill pass from inside his own half, but fell victim to the linesman's flag for offside. Hobbs was booked for protesting about the decision.

A defender's outstretched foot denied Adam Toy when his terrific shot following good work by Brett Andrew was deflected over the bar.

Raven was constantly in action as Wendron mounted wave after wave of attacks, but O'Neill and Mark Pope both had goal-line efforts cleared off the line.

Hobbs and O'Neill combined to set up Pope in the 76th minute, but despite the goalkeeper diving the wrong way he managed to keep the ball out of the net with his feet.

With ten minutes to go Wendron finally got the goal they deserved when Maclean made a good run and crossed for Hobbs to sidefoot his volley into the roof of the net.

Minutes later Maclean delivered a great pass to Pope, but he saw his shot rebound off a post.

With four minutes to go Hobbs ran on to Pope's cross, but with just Raven to beat he shot wide of the target.

It proved a frustrating afternoon for Wendron who should have won by a cricket score, but were grateful for getting the one goal that for most of the game looked out of reach.

On Saturday Wendron have a rearranged game away to Wendron.

Wendron: M James, G Pascoe, J Till, A Munro, P Maclean, S Johnston, S Hodson, B Andrew, M McIlroy, M O'Neill, G Hobbs. Sub: A Toy, J Searle, M Pope.