1874 Northwich’s marathon season drew to a close with a draw against landlords Winsford United last Saturday, writes Garry Clarke.

Sam Howell put Blues in front shortly before half time and it took until the 89th minute for 1874 to seal a share of the spoils shortly after Blues' full-back Dean Clarke had been sent off.

And what an equaliser it was, watched by St Luke’s Barton Stadium’s biggest crowd of the season!

Substitute Taylor Kennerley found himself with time and space 30 yards from goal and unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which flew past goalkeeper Matthew Green.

The home side’s player-manager, and former 1874 defender, Lee Duckworth turned away a dangerous Ben Woods cross in the opening minutes before Blues started to gain the upper hand.

Howell nearly gave the home side the lead in the 15th minute when he tried to chip 1874 custodian Greg Hall from the edge of the area.

At full stretch, he responded by palming the ball away for a corner.

Six minutes later the number dived full length to his right to turn a Callam Gardner shot around the post.

1874 responded in the 30th minute with Sam Freakes driving a free-kick low into the Winsford area, where it was diverted for a corner.

In the 42nd minute Ryan Mitchell played a long ball over the top of Winsford's defence into the path of Jake Parker, but his attempted lob was saved comfortably.

Clarke intercepted a Hall clearance and fired a shot from distance just wide of the target with 1874's number one scrambling back towards his goal.

Winsford broke the deadlock in the moments before half-time.

Good build-up play on the left flank saw the ball crossed into the penalty area where it found Howell, who smashed the ball into the net.

Winsford started the second half on the attack with Danny Thomas clearing a Perry Bircumshaw header off the line and Jamie McLellan heading into the side-netting.

As the game reached the hour mark 1874 seemed to get their second wind and started to come into the game more.

Woods drew a fine save from Green and substitute Kazim Waite-Jackson fired a free kick just over the bar.

Clarke was sent off by referee Joe Pettitt for a wild challenge on the latter eight minutes from time.

Kennerley then fired in his unstoppable shot to claim the share of the points.

Winsford | Green (GK), Clarke, Lee Duckworth, Rothwell (Joe Duckworth 77), McLellan, Foster, Hopper, Howell, Daniels, Gardner, Bircumshaw (Fowles 68) Subs not used Banks, Taylor

1874 | Hall (GK), Thomas, Woods (Waite-Jackson 70), Pritchard (Lever 46), Mitchell, Freakes, Hind (Kennerley 65), Matthew Woolley, Riley, McGowan, Parker Subs not used Winthrop, Bowyer

Referee Joe Pettitt

Attendance 473