BLUES are making fightbacks a feature of their season.

But manager Joe Gibiliru is once more left wondering what might have been after seeing his side rescue a third successive match after falling behind.

Darren Connell's double earned a precious point.

Before that the old foes Flixton had stormed into a two-goal lead that seemed set to end Blues' nine-game unbeaten streak.

The hosts struggled to put any meaningful moves together in the first half and some strange decisions by the officials did not help matters.

Although they went into the break just one goal behind it looked as if they were facing a heavy defeat.

Flixton were helped by some indecisive defending.

Their opener arrived in controversial circumstances when Mark Calland was adjudged to have fouled Steve Moore.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot even though there was no appeal from the visitors and Moore himself converted from 12-yards with a low shot to the bottom left corner.

Winsford rarely threatened, relying on long shots and speculative centres, all of which proved fruitless.

The closest they came to a leveller was on the whistle when Ross Kennedy's shot was saved at the second attempt by goalkeeper David Rouse.

Playing against a gale-force wind in the second half Blues went two behind on 50 minutes when Anthony Hargreaves' centre from the left was caught by a gust of wind that took it out of reach of Michael Langley and into the net.

From that moment on the hosts came to life.

Connell, in his best game in a Blues shirt, saw a shot was deflected onto the post on 52 minutes.

Two minutes later Kennedy's header went inches wide but the midfielder fell awkwardly and another name was added to the injury list following Michael Owens' first half departure.

On the hour the game might have been put out of reach when the referee ignored his assistant's flag for a foul on Dean Ennion and allowed the ball to go through to Moore and Hargreaves who were standing at least ten yards offside.

Seeing no flag had been raised the pair set off for Langley's goal with just the stricken keeper to beat.

However, Langley did enough for Calland to get back and clear the ball off the line. Flixton lived to regret their miss as the home team began to pile on the pressure and they pulled a goal back on 72 minutes when Lee Duckworth's cross from the left was headed home by Connell.

Les Miranda had a chance to equalise minutes later but his run in from the left ended with a shot that went inches over the bar.

Another strange decision came on 77 minutes when, under pressure from the Winsford forwards a Flixton defender placed both hands on the ball as it lay on the ground but nothing was given.

Two minutes later Blues were level.

Nobody had told John Bluck that it was impossible to play football in such conditions as he collected the ball on the halfway line and proceeded to take it past three defenders to the right byline and into the area.

Although he had a chance for glory himself he laid it back to Connell who drove it home inside the right post.


Star Man: John Bluck
Blues: Langley, Calland, Duckworth, Callaghan, Ridler, Bluck, Owens (Kennedy 27), Mason, Connell, Miranda, Mason
Subs not used: Sayer, Barnes, Dears, Hughes
Attendance: 140