Crow at home in top flight

BRAVE STOP . . . Crown goalkeeper Mark Pellowe saves in a crowded goalmouth.

Carrion Crow 2, Crown FC 2

AMATEUR FOOTBALL: CARRION Crow began their first campaign in the top flight of the Oldham Sunday League – the Jack Abbott Premier Division – with a share of the spoils against Crown FC at Snipe Clough.

Enthusiastic Crow manager Lee Harrison said: “It was good to start the season with something on the board, though we led twice and really wanted to win it. On reflection a draw was probably a fair result and everyone who played can hold their heads up high.”

Crown manager Paul Marshall said: “We had a makeshift side out there as some of the regulars weren’t available, but I thought each one of them did themselves proud. We took hold of the game towards the end and we could have won it, but I will take a point.”

Crow’s Martin Knowles was the busier of the two goalkeepers and denied Crown several times.

Crow had selection issues to consider too, with skipper Jamie Shaw out for the season with a back injury and Scott Edge missing with a broken leg.

But Crow were quickest out of the traps on this opening day of the season. After 29 minutes Calum Beckett showed his coolness in front of goal by putting the ball in the net from 16 yards.

Reece Holden’s sweetly-struck drive from the angle of the Crow penalty area brought Crown level seoon after in an even first half played in the best of spirits from both sides.

Beckett’s spot-kick just past the hour mark restored Crow’s advantage, but with the game entering its final stages, Kane Duffy converted from the spot to rescue a point for Crown.