Wetherby Athletic faced another tricky game on Saturday as Pool made the trip to The Ings for the Andy Graham derby!

There was just one change in the starting 11 as Joe Smith came in for Tom Frost, a welcome sight was also James Flynn taking his place on the bench after close to a year out with various injuries.

The home team started fast and within 5 minutes could have had the lead or numerical advantage at least as Josh Wilson went past the keeper 30 yards from goal only for the keeper to take the Wetherby striker out with a dangerous high tackle.

The referee deemed that due to Wilson travelling into the corner rather than straight through on goal that this was a yellow card offence, the home team felt quite aggrieved at this due to the nature of the tackle.

As the half went on Pool started to get a foothold of the game and were winning possession back off Wetherby too easily and dictating the play after 15 minutes they took a deserved lead, Wetherby unable to clear the ball when the opportunity came and the Pool player more aggressive in the 50/50 challenge (which was the case all over the pitch at this point) and then found the far corner of the net with a great strike 0-1.

Wetherby gradually were getting back into the game as the half went on but were not creating a great deal, skipper Brian Blewitt with the best chance to level things up when one on one with the keeper but he got caught in two minds and put his shot wide of the post.

HALF TIME : Wetherby Athletic 0-1 Pool

Into the second half and Wetherby looked a bit more lively and another good chance to level the game as Wilson dragged his shot wide after going through one on one although the angle was against the Wetherby striker.

As the rain started to come down harder more controversy as Pool were awarded a penalty.

Joe Whiteley adjudged to a foul after it looked to everyone that he clearly got the ball.

The penalty was converted well and Pool doubled their lead 0-2.

As we went into the final quarter of the game it was looking increasingly likely that Pool would come away with all 3 points, but one thing this Wetherby team have always done for the last two seasons is battle until the end and never give up and that was evident again in this game.

With 25 minutes remaining Anthony Walsh went through and finished well to make it 1-2.

The comeback was complete with 10 minutes remaining and it was Walsh again on target finishing at the far post after Greg Harrison headed the ball back across goal.

To be fair both teams pushed for the winner in the last ten minutes but the score remained 2-2.

A bit of a strange game really, and another day it could have been different, but you will always take a draw when 2-0 down so great credit to the lads for not giving up.

TEAM: Hooper 8, Sorhaindo 7, Heptinstall 7, Paxton 7 (McEntee), Harrison 8, Smith 7, Blewitt 7, Wilson 7, WHITELEY 9, Dockerty 7 (Flynn), Walsh 8.

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