Eccleshill United's hopes of making it three wins on the bounce at Plumpton Park perished along with any entertainment value as they battled out a draw with Armthorpe Welfare.

The commitment was there, the passion was there but what was missing was any quality in the final third. Both sides went through the motions but had they taken the game by the scruff of the neck it was there to win.

For that lack of edge, spark or desire they each got what they deserved from it - a share of the spoils.

Neither can have any complaints about the outcome and only the most blinkered would argue either should have taken all three points.

United's boss Ray Price said: "I'm happy and sad. It could have gone either way so I suppose a draw is fair.

"Our passing was poor in the first half and though we were better when we had possession in the second half, we still gave it away a lot. We had to make the substitutions and it worked straight away.

"We pulled the goal back and I thought we would go on and win it. Instead our keeper has had to make more saves. We haven't lost, our run is still going, so we are satisfied with a point apiece."

To be fair to the players, the pitch did them no favours - it was a sticky surface that cut up badly.

Even Armthorpe's former Premiership striker Clint Marcelle struggled to look anything other than average.

The visitors could have been in front

as they edged the few chances in the goalless first half.

Gary Jones hit the side-netting, United keeper Craig Bates saved with his legs from Marcelle and Jones inexplicably fired wide from the edge of the six-yard box.

Armthorpe broke the deadlock just before the hour when Giovanni Carchedi took possession in a central position.

As he moved forward, runners went either side to stretch the home defence and Carchedi rifled a low 20-yard effort into the bottom corner.

Price responded with a double change ten minutes later. Andy Patterson, who had been United's most threatening striker, was sacrificed and Ben Hardy also made way.

Club captain Jamie Buchan, who was on the bench because of a niggling injury, and James Hanson came on.

The home side won a free-kick and the ball in was cleared only as far as Buchan. His first touch was a cross to the far post which picked out Andy Howland and he powered in a header.

The last 20 minutes of the game produced the best chances. Both sides went for the win, Bates denied Jones before the home side's Andy Philp lashed over the target. A superb reaction save by Welfare keeper Gary Strephan prevented Rob Cornwall grabbing a winner and Armthorpe ended on the attack, with Jones firing just wide across the face and Carchedi hitting a snap shot in injury time.