Pateley Bridge 1, Burley Trojans 1

Appearances can be deceptive. Trojans arrived in Nidderdale on a mild and sunny Spring day with the early season tourists thronging the streets.

On closer inspection the combination of the worst pitch in the division, a partisan home crowd and a resurgent Pateley Bridge side very quickly dispelled any thoughts of a comfortable afternoon for the league leaders.

And so it proved in a classic game of two halves with the home side on top in the first period and Trojans hammering away incessantly for the second 45 minutes but with only a Chris Connolly penalty two minutes from time to spare their blushes.

The fact that Trojans failed to take all three points was ultimately down to a virtuoso performance by 'keeper Graeme Wilcox.

The Pateley 'keeper pulled off two of the finest saves he will ever make to deny both Gareth Goodison and Phil Constantine, as well as coming out on top in at least three one-on-one situations.

Trojans' Dave McKain soon announced his return with a stinging drive that just cleared the angle before Chris Hargreaves had to plunge to his right to tip an Ian Bush header onto the post.

Wilcox made the first of his telling contributions when he rushed off his line to deny Goodison when the lively Jonny Lofthouse had set him free.

The heavy pitch was making passing football difficult and the home side adapted better in the opening exchanges with Trojans' skipper Nick Quaife one of the few visitors to make his mark as he battled in the marshlands of midfield to keep his side in contention.

Despite their strangely lethargic showing Trojans were making better use of their more limited possession with Connolly going close on a couple of occasions and McKain forcing Wilcox to tip over.

It was Pateley who deservedly took the lead when sloppy marking at a corner allowed Mark Bradshaw to steal in and net from close range.

The home side threatened to extend their lead with Ben Davidson bringing a fine diving save from Hargreaves and then left-back Chris Lockwood kept his nerve to scoop the ball to safety off his own line.

Trojans missed out on a great chance to go in level when Goodison snatched at a Lofthouse cross and sent his drive over the bar from only six yards.

It took some impassioned words from 'keeper Hargreaves during the interval to inject some urgency into Trojans and they emerged a different side after the break.

Left-winger Tom McDermott began to impress with his trickery and when Wilcox spilled his free- kick Quaife was just beaten to the rebound. McDermott also picked out Goodison but the Pateley 'keeper denied him once again.

In rare second-half forays Tony Carrington fired over when once again the marking was less than effective at a corner and the same player was foiled by Hargreaves when he found himself clear.

Wilcox made his first wonder save when Connolly found Goodison eight yards out. The young striker couldn't have struck his first time volley any better and Wilcox somehow got a hand to the ball and turned it behind.

Pateley left-back Dan Carrington was fortunate to escape with a clear handball in his own area but it was on the blind side of referee Brian Beecroft who had an outstanding game throughout.

Trojans introduced veteran striker Phil Constantine and he began to torment the home defence but a combination of Wilcox and some well organised defending kept the visitors at bay. Goalscorer Bradshaw had a shot well saved by Hargreaves who also had to be alert to tip over from Bush when a rare slip from Ian McKain let him in.

Wilcox saved well from Trojans Man-of-the-Match Quaife before he distinguished himself once again by turning Constantine's close range drive over the bar.

With time running out Trojans threw caution to the wind and added the weight of centre-half Stuart Dibb to the attack. Dibb was felled in the box by a combination of Bullough and Irving.

Pateley protested long and hard but to no avail as there will be few more clear cut penalty decisions this season. After a lengthy delay, whilst Mr Beecroft recalled Irving who had mistakenly thought that he had been sent off, Connolly kept his cool to blast home.

There was still time for some controversy as the home side broke in stoppage time. A wayward shot struck Ian McKain on the arm. Trojans' hearts were in their mouths as the referee took a long hard look before waving play on.

The match ended in an honourable draw which was not good enough for Trojans as news reached them that Ilkley had reclaimed top spot following their demolition of Kirkby Malzeard.

l Trojans travel to Harrogate on Saturday to take on Spa Athletic, kick-off 2.15pm. Players should meet at the Cricket Club at 1pm.