WINSFORD United demonstrated their resilience to draw with Hanley Town despite playing for more than an hour with 10 men following Jordan Johnson’s first-half dismissal.

They had a lead to protect following Damian Skolorzynski’s stunning second-minute opener, while goalkeeper Ross Heywood produced a string of saves to defy the hosts.

Andrew Nicholls did score an equaliser, but Blues held on for a share of the spoils.

New recruit Skolorzynski surprised everybody when he smashed a spectacular shot into the top corner from distance to leave Hanley custodian Joe Hemmings grasping at air.

When Callam Gardner drilled wide from a free kick, Winsford’s tails were up.

However Theo Stair served a warning at the other end when he fired high, then Heywood stretched a leg to clear Neville Thompson’s effort.

Blues went close again though when player-manager Lee Duckworth’s close-range header from a corner prompted Hemmings to block instinctively.

Tom Ashton headed in Stair’s centre, only for a linesman to judge he had strayed offside, before Johnson was shown a red card by referee Andrew Dallison as punishment for a reckless two-footed tackle on Jon Sheldon.

Stair surprisingly stabbed over from inside the six-yard box at the start of the second half, while strike partner Daniel Cope was similarly wasteful when he headed off-target.

Nicholls was more accurate, sending a low shot into the corner from the edge of the penalty area on 59 minutes.

However his teammates responded with disbelief when Heywood contorted his body to push away Charlie Goldstraw’s powerful header after he had ghosted into space.

Stair and Nicholls both spurned further opportunities, although it was Blues’ turn to feel frustrated when Dallison was unconvinced captain Danny Kerr’s fall in the box had been caused by a defender.

There was time too for Winsford to threaten a winner when Michael Koral – their match-winner against Barnoldswick at the weekend – broke clear on the left.

However his tired finish lacked the force to trouble Hemmings.

Hanley | Hemmings (GK), Goldstraw, Sheldon (Johnson 75), Blowers, Thorpe (Price 84), Stanyer, Nicholls, Ashton, Cope, Stair, Thompson Subs not used Skellern, Donaldson, Bristow Goal Nicholls 59

Winsford | Heywood (GK), Skolorzynski, Bircumshaw, Kerr, Lee Duckworth, Foster, Taylor (Hudson 70), Hopper, Johnson, Koral, Gardner (Steele 65) Subs not used Riley, Grimes, Joe Duckworth Goal Skolorzynski 2  Booked Lee Duckworth, Koral Sent off Johnson (foul)

Referee Andrew Dallison

Attendance 135

Match report by Bob Astles