The first half kicked off and it was Amberswood who had the first opportunity of the game as Craig Gilligan went clean through and knocked the ball past the Billinge Eagles keeper who cynically brought down the Amberswood striker and stopped a definite goal, and the referee had no option but to send the Billinge Eagles keeper from the field of play. As the half went on Amberswood were on the attack more often than not with Craig Gilligan squandering a host of one on one opportunities, but it was Billinge Eagles who drew first blood with a counter attack that developed into a goal as Sammer Ahmed's last contribution before he went off injured, he hassled a Billinge Eagles player about twenty five yards out from goal in the centre of the pitch and stumbled at the last moment injuring himself and was adjudged to have fouled the Billinge player. The direct free kick was hit ferociously towards goal and as the Amberswood wall broke the ball took a deflection and soared past the stranded Amberswood keeper Ian Porter and into the net.
Craig Gilligan who caused the Billinge Eagles defence problems all game broke through again on the right hand side and as the Billinge Eagles replacement keeper came to meet him, he knocked the ball wide of the keeper and evaded the challenge and struck the ball towards goal, only to see the ball hit the foot of the post and go out for a goal kick. Substitute Payam Doustani who was a magician with the ball, was also guilty of missing an open goal as he went clean through the centre of the Billinge Eagles defence, the keeper came out to meet him, Payam Doustani flicked the ball over the advencing keeper to find the goal at his mercy and waited for the ball to come down before putting it wide.
The second half started in much the same way as the first ended with Amberswood attacking and Billinge Eagles defending, but it was Billinge Eagles who should have scored as the striker broke free on the right hand side and came in towards goal, he hit a shot, which Amberswood goalkeeper Ian Porter miraculously one handed pushed the ball over the bar. Amberswood then came up with the equaliser after a ball was played down the left flank, the Billinge Eagles stand-in keeper came out to clear the ball, his poor clearance ended up at the feet of Amberswood striker Craig Gilligan who controlled the ball and turned away from the Billinge Eagles defender before unleashing a forty yard shot into the unguarded net.
Amberswood were caught off-side on numerous occasions, but in the end Amberswood ran out of time and the final score was Amberswood 1 Billinge Eagles 1.
Amberswood will feel that this was a game of missed opportunities, but Billinge Eagles defended excellently and deserved a draw.
Man Of The Match: Craig Gilligan not for his finishing, but his workrate and overall contribution were excellent.