Steve Corris converted a late penalty against second placed Winsford United to earn AFC Liverpool their first point of the season.

It was a well earned point for the Reds, who fell behind as early as the tenth minute to a Matthew Ward penalty, that rewarded their perseverance and determination right to the end. The home side will be ruing a couple of good second half opportunities that they failed to take advantage of that probably would have sealed the result in their favour but it was credit to Paul Moore’s side that they never gave up.

The story of the game could have been completely different had the Reds taken one or both of two early chances as they came racing out of the blocks. Inside two minutes the ball went twice across the Winsford goal but neither Shaun Harris nor Shaun Chart could send it goalwards. Then three minutes later Shaun Gardner beat the offside trap and seeing Matt Conkie off his line, attempted to lob the Winsford keeper but failed to direct his effort on target.

That good start was stopped in its traps five minutes later though as once again the Reds handed the opposition the opportunity to score. Instead of clearing his lines, Harris attempted to run the ball out of the area, losing out to Dean McGregor, and then compounded the mistake by blocking the Winsford’s striker’s cross with his arm. Ward sent debutant Damien Eastham the wrong way, punishing yet another defensive error.

The remaining thirty five minutes were evenly contested with the best chance going to the home side. Jack McKay’s burst down the right saw him deliver a develish cross to the near post but Andrew Hurst, diving low, put his header the wrong side of the upright. At the other end, Harris fired low into Conkie’s near post forcing a save that was bettered as he flew full stretch to turn behind a Harris free kick.

The home side should have extended their lead not long after the break when McGregor raced onto a simple ball over the top but was foiled in the one on one by Eastham. More nervous defending almost presented Hurst with a chance but fortunately for AFC Liverpool, Eastham was able to recover the situation before the Reds shakily defended a Daniel Thomas free kick that Andrew Whitney almost turned home.

The home side weren’t having it all their own way though. The Reds always looked to pressurize the Winsford back four but were unable to create any real opportunities. Harris tried to squeeze a shot into the near post and Franny Barry looked to hook over Conkie from the edge of the box but didn’t get enough height on the ball.

Then with time running out Shaun Chart picked the ball up on the left, cut into the area and went down under the challenge of McKay. The referee instantly blew for a penalty, much to the consternation of the home defence, and up stepped Corris to get AFC Liverpool’s season up and running.

Winsford United 1-1 AFC Liverpool
Ward (p) 10′                               Corris (p) 90′

Attendance: 152