ON a bitterly cold night at Crilly Park Atherton LR were forced to settle for a share of the spoils despite dominating for long spells against Bacup Borough.

Laburnums played some scintillating attacking football at times with Dave Moore a tireless presence up front against a robust Bacup defensive line and roving fullback Joe Shambare storming forward time and again to add his weight to the cause. The home side could have been two goals up inside the first ten minutes after visiting keeper Aaron Ashley twice flapped at crosses but nobody was on hand to turn the loose ball home, then Boic Bafana broke clean through on goal but rifled his shot against the post to give Bacup a further reprieve. Bacup’s robust approach to the game broke LR’s rhythm slightly as the half went on and right on the stroke of half time the visitors could have taken the lead themselves as a swift break from an LR corner ended with Jon Thompson flashing his shot just wide of the post.

LR were dealt a further blow not long after half time when Marvin Moyo, erroneously shown a red card in the first half in a case of mistaken identity, now collected his second booking and early bath as he halted a Bacup attack but the home side remained positive and they deservedly claimed the lead when Adam Owens headed the ball home from almost on the goal line on the hour mark. Despite their man disadvantage the home side continued to play with attacking intent against a tiring Bacup defence with Moore in particular leading the back four a merry dance.

Eventually the wily Borough boss Brent Peters switched his defensive line up to good effect as centre-back Adrian Bellamy was pushed up into attack and it was the burly defender who snatched the equaliser as he turned the ball home from a set piece to deny LR the three points they deserved.