LINTHWAITE Under 12s managed to draw with only eight men on the pitch!

They drew 1-1 with Howden Clough and coach Martin Phillips said: “They were brilliant, I’m proud of them.”

Linthwaite were always likely to struggle after starting with just nine players but, despite the obvious disadvantage, they proved to be the more likely winners for much of the game.

With a blustery wind at their backs, Linthwaite took the game to their opponents, who seemed to struggle against their highly-motivated visitors, possibly due to thinking it would be an easy ride.

But, even after Dominic Ellam fired the opening goal for Linthwaite, Clough still failed to cope with the speed and determination of the visitors and only some sterling defending from James Leadbeater, Danny Carr, Charles Toulson and Robert Naylor, together with a couple of fine saves from keeper Guy Hardwick, denied the Colne Valley side from improving their scoreline.

Although Linthwaite had enjoyed an excellent first half, it was always doubtful that a single goal would be enough to keep them in the game but, even with the wind at their backs, Clough failed to make their numerical advantage count and Linthwaite defenders Clayton Phillips, Nathan Oakes, Tom Greenidge and Alex Hall were outstanding when Clough finally started to show a desire to win the game.

Clough’s improved second half performance, thanks to the efforts of Ashley Woods, George Woodcock and Alex Hasioszun, eventually paid dividends when, after a period of pressure and much to the relief of the home supporters, Charlie Toulson latched onto a half-cleared corner to fire a fine shot from the edge of the area through a crowded goalmouth to level the scores.

Having gained the impetus, Clough failed to capitalise and Linthwaite, still full of drive and determination, could and probably should have re-taken the lead when, first, Reece Robertson headed a corner onto the Clough bar and, within minutes, Dominic Ellam’s shot across goal rolled agonisingly wide of the left hand upright.

Then, some tremendous work by the outstanding Dominic Moorhouse left Greenidge with just Hardwick to beat but the Clough keeper did just enough to force the Linthwaite striker into firing wide when a goal looked a certainty.

Unfortunately, Linthwaite’s continued enthusiasm and Clough’s frustration led to a few niggly tackles and, from one such challenge, the referee decided to try to calm things down a bit by sending off Robertshaw to leave Linthwaite with just eight men for the final 15.

Clough piled on the pressure in the last few minutes in a desperate search for the winner but, despite a series of corners, Linthwaite held out for a point to keep them within striking distance of a top-three finish, but title-chasing Howden Clough will be disappointed and left wondering how they managed to let two vital points slip from their grasp.