By Jim Cunneen

Shortwood United 2

North Leigh 2

NORTH Leigh will wonder how they didn’t leave Meadowbank with all three points, let alone one, after their display on Saturday.

Shortwood were indebted to goalkeeper Tom King, but North Leigh found themselves a goal down at the break and then two down after 55 minutes.

Co-manager John Evans said:”Obviously I am disappointed to drop a point after being 2-0 up – but to be honest it was the very least North Leigh deserved. I thought Josh Egan was outstanding.”

Shortwood were out of sorts in the first half – while North Leigh were crisp with their passing and always looked dangerous.

After only five minutes King had to punch away a fierce free-kick from former Forest Green winger Jon Else and then after 18 minutes Osborne – Ricketts fired in a long shot that the Wood keeper did well to touch away.

King saved his best save for Osborne who shot low from 20 yards and King, at full- stretch, not only got to the shot but held it. Then McNish shot wide. Slowly Shortwood got into the game and Egan started to look dangerous down the flanks.

It was North Leigh who continued to look the more dangerous and it was completely against the run of play when Shortwood took the lead on the stroke of half- time.

Captain Matt Bennett got down the flank and his low cross was met by Ross Langworthy whose shot was blocked, ironically by Lewis Sommers, but the ball rebounded to Egan, who fired home through a ruck of players.

Shortwood were much brighter in the second half. Langworthy shot wide, but Wood had a let-off when a cross from the left fell to Cook six yards out at the far post, but he scuffed his effort wide of the open goal.

After 55 minutes Egan picked out the giant Sommers and he smacked a powerful header home. North Leigh finally got the goal their play deserved on the hour when a good move was finished by McNish from the edge of the area.

Former Forest Green goalkeeper Matt Bulman raced from his goal to deny Nick Humphreys with his feet and then saved well from Joe White, but slowly North Leigh pushed Shortwood deeper and their attacks became more sporadic.

However, an Egan free-kick hit the outside of the post.

Just as it seemed as though Wood would cling on, Cook headed home at the death.

SHORTWOOD: King, White, Bennett, Haddock, Lee, Hancock, Egan (Thomas M 89) Parrott, Sommers (Klein – Davies 83), Langworthy (Price 70), Humphries.

Star Man: Josh Egan.