Points Shared With Cheadle

A stoppage time equaliser from Owen Fisher-Jones earned The Non-League Reds a point, in a tough game at home against Cheadle Town.

The early stages were quite even with lots of possession for both sides but very few goal scoring opportunities. However, midway through the half, Cheadle pounced on an AFC defensive slip, allowing Khan to cross for Njie to tap home for the opener.

AFC responded well and began to press. On 28 minutes they were level. Harry Wright-Ocana found Elliot Taylor on the left and he crossed to the back post, where Adam Moorcroft calmly side-footed the ball across the 6 yard box, for Cameron Rooney to score on his 50th appearance for the Club.

Cam Rooney gets a goal on his 50th appearance for AFC

On 40 minutes, Elliot Taylor forced the keeper to save with his foot. Moorcroft then headed over from a Joel Skillen cross and then Khan went close for the visitors. It looked like it would be all square at the break but the visitor's number 9 Oliver Ford had other ideas, as he received the ball to feet in the second minute of added time, turned well and fired into the net to restore Cheadle's lead.

Chances were at a premium in the 2nd period but on 62 minutes, a great pass from the excellent Jack Hinnigan, found Rooney running from midfield. He chested it past the keeper but couldn't direct his effort on target and the leaders remained in front. Taylor went close on 70 minutes, when using his strength to hold off defenders before shooting inches wide of the post from the edge of the box.

AFC continued to press in search of an equaliser and Joel Skillen had an effort well blocked by a last ditch tackle. As the 90th minute passed, the ball was launched into the visitors penalty area. Substitutes, Mark Madden and Dan Mahaffy battled well to try and get on the end of it. The ball broke loose and Owen Fisher-Jones was the first to react, managing to knock the ball past the keeper to level the scores. AFC looked like they could grab a winner in the remaining added minutes, but the closest they came was from a fine Wright-Ocana effort from distance, that was pushed round the post by the keeper. The whistle blew and the home side had extended their unbeaten run to eight games.

The look on the players' faces tell the story, as Owen celebrates his last gasp equaliser

The Non-League Reds are at home again this Saturday afternoon, when they have an important game against Abbey Hey. Please get down to support the lads if you can. Kick off is 3pm and all support will be greatly appreciated.

FINAL SCORE - AFC Liverpool 2 v 2 Cheadle Town

LINE-UP - 1. Barnes 2. Smalley 3. Wright-Ocana 4. Moorcroft (c) 5. Fisher-Jones 6. Hinnigan

7. Rooney 8. Starkey 9. Taylor 10. Brown 11. Skillen

Subs used - Madden, Mahaffy, Davies

Photos courtesy of Dave Williams