Shelley pay for missed chances

SHELLEY scored twice, but were left to rue the ones that got away as they were held to a 2-2 draw at St Helens Town.

The Huddersfield side are seventh in the Hallmark Security North West Counties League First Division North after being leapfrogged by AFC Liverpool, who won 3-1 at Atherton Laburnum Rovers.

Another Liverpool side, Lower Breck, and Steeton remain a point above and a point below Shelley respectively after a 1-1 draw in Keighley.

Shelley have signed frontman Gary Driscoll from Steeton and the 31-year-old, who has also turned out for Northern Counties East League Selby Town this season, was handed a debut from the bench on the Arcoframe Stadium’s artificial surface.

Meanwhile, versatile Carlton Pownall, brought in from Bradford-based NCEL side Eccleshill United, produced another solid display after impressing in the 3-1 home win over Holker Old Boys.

But it was a familiar face in Marc Townsend who grabbed the 33rd-minute opener, a second goal of the season for the popular midfielder.

Jack Davies, 19-goal top scorer Craig Billington and wideman Matty Waller had been unable to capitalise on earlier opportunities, and assistant manager Howard Cartledge said: “We should really have been two or three ahead by the time Marc scored.”

The visitors were made to pay for their profligacy when Neil Weaver levelled on the hour.

There was worse to come six minutes later when powerful former Ashton Town striker Weaver put the home side in front with his ninth goal of the campaign.

But 15th-placed St Helens’ hopes of a sixth league win were short-lived as midfielder Davies levelled for Shelley on 69 minutes.

It was a deserved first goal at North West Counties level for the hardworking 19-year-old, who has come through Shelley’s youth system. Cartledge said: “It might have been worse, and it’s another point, but we felt that with the chances we had, we should have won this one. “We were strong in the first half, which was pleasing given it was our first game on an artificial patch this season. “That put us in a good position, but we weren’t as dominant after that and we let them back into it, which is disappointing.” Next up is Saturday’s Stafflex Arena clash with AFC Blackpool, who are 13th and suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Shelley at the start of November. The Tangerines, who have a Tuesday-night game at Atherton LR before their visit to West Yorkshire, have won only one of their last eight league games. Meanwhile, Emley drew 0-0 at Grimsby Borough in Division One of the Northern Counties East League.

It’s another point, but with the chances we had we should have won this one