Brighouse Town 3, Whickham 3

(after extra-time, 2-2 90 min)

Brighouse Town face a difficult trip to the north east next Tuesday for an FA Vase third-round replay with Whickham after the Northern League outfit snatched two late equalisers at the Dual Seal Stadium tonight.

The visitors opened the scoring midway the first half, Steve Ainston being on target, but Town hit back before the half-hour.

It was an own goal by Nathan Johnson that brought the home side level but Ryan Hall netted four minutes later, and Town took that 2-1 lead into the break.

Whickham forced extra-time when Andy Farrey found the back of the net in the penultimate minute of normal time.

After that drama, Town’s Tom Matthews netted in stoppage time of the first extra period.

The visitors were not finished, though, and Ian Robson made it all-square six minutes from time to take the tie up to Whickham for a conclusion.

Brighouse’s Toolstation Northern Counties East League Premier Division counterparts Thackley are in league action tomorrow night.

It will be the first of two defining games for the Dennyboys as they head to second-placed Barton Town Old Boys before hosting leaders Tadcaster Albion on Saturday.

The Dennyboys may have dropped to sixth place but they have games in hand on their promotion rivals and would go level on points with Barton with a win tomorrow.

Eccleshill United have home advantage against Cleethorpes Town in the NCE League Cup first round.

The Eagles will not be at their home, however. Following the damage caused in last Thursday’s storm, the cup tie will be played at Thackley’s Dennyfield.