Lambert goal earns a late point for Billinge

Playing their first game in six weeks The Storks were - understandably - not at the races for the first 25 minutes of the game as the visitors created wave after wave of attacks.

Led by the excellent Alex Jackson upfront and the tricky Max Dickov - son of on-watching ex-Manchester City star Paul - out wide Poynton should really have taken the lead.

However a string of excellent saves by Billinge custodian Kai McAlister and sturdy defending kept the Cheshire side - and Jackson in particular - at bay.

The striker had four great chances in the first twenty minutes while Billinge could only respond with a long-range effort by Steve Wilson and a shot from 12 yards by Rob Lambert; both of which didn’t’ trouble keeper Danny Ward.

However as the half progressed Billinge began to get into the game and despite another great run, turn and shot by Jackson on 37 minutes it was The Storks that finished the half the stronger.

On 39 minutes Wilson, Liam Fitzgerald and James Dagnall combined well but Dagnall’s cross just evaded the onrushing Lamont and Niall Dawson.

Then on 42 minutes a Fitzgerald free-kick came to nothing before Poynton responded just on half-time with a flowing attack that led to Matt Toole blasting a shot high and wide.

In truth, Billinge were lucky to go in at half-time all square and knowing they had to improve were the first out of the blocks in the second period when Lewis Jones fed a great pass to Lambert whose shot went narrowly wide.

On 51 minutes Poynton had a great opportunity to go ahead as Wilson didn’t get his tackle right and brought down Dickov in the area for a definite penalty.

Carl McCurrie stepped up but McAlister picked the right side and pulled off a superb stop to keep the score level.

Sensing the game was turning The Storks way, manager Wayne Wardle brought on Ismael Aourid in place of full-back Liam Thomas, injecting some lightning speed and trickery out wide.

A further substitution - on 58 minutes saw Lambert on for the injured Fitzgerald and the two newcomers immediately combined well to put in Lewis Jones who shot just over the bar.

With the game getting stretched - a minute later - McCurrie had the ball in The Storks net but the assistant referee’s flag was up for offside.

Aourid and Lambert then worked a good move that saw Lambert shoot just over from 25 yards.

A minute later Poynton again had the ball in the back of the net - this time through Jackson - but again an assistant referee flagged - correctly - for offside.

The game then entered a fractious period as Billinge players Dawson and Aaron Rice went into the book in quick succession.

With 78 minutes gone the away side had the break through as Jackson lost his man at the back post and knocked it home from close range.

It was double-trouble for Billinge when moments later they were down to ten men as Dawson received a second yellow card for what seemed to be an innocent tussle for the ball.

One of the stars of last week’s Cheshire League Representative side’s victory over the Yorkshire Amateur League had been targeted from the first minute - with various Poynton players putting in late tackles on him - and the second yellow felt unjust at this point.

With the game seemingly going to end in a 1-0 defeat, the young Billinge players continued to press and with the clock four minutes into additional time they were awarded a free-kick on the left 25 yards out.

Lambert duly stepped up and hit an incredible left-footed free-kick that beat Ward - himself the penalty-hero from last week’s Cheshire League victory - all ends up and gave The Storks - what in the end was - a deserved share of the points.

After the game manager Wardle said: “I’ve managed Harvey for many years now and he only scores worldies.

“If he could start getting the easy ones he would be some player as he has all the attributes to be a real star for the club.”

The result takes Billinge up into seventh place and are at home again next week when high-flying Altrincham Reserves visit Barrows Farm for a 2pm kick-off.