CARL Macauley said afterwards that Witton Albion created enough chances to beat Hyde United but insisted criticising his players for missing them would feel harsh.

Instead they put a first point on the board in a new season when River Humphreys’ goal cancelled out John McCombe’s goal for the visitors at Wincham Park on Tuesday.

“I’m gutted we didn’t win but the performance was great,” said the Witton manager.

“We were better than them, and there were times in the first-half when we didn’t quite get the rub of the green and they defended well.

“However after half-time we had opportunities and didn’t take them.

“Their goalkeeper deserves credit too.”

Peter Crook, the Tigers’ custodian, was alert twice to prevent Tom Owens from finding the net and produced a smart save earlier in the evening to claw clear Rob Hopley’s chipped attempt.

However he rode his luck too.

James Foley’s penalty crashed against the underside of the crossbar after Matty Devine had been scythed down and the midfielder was denied again from the woodwork with a curling effort late on.

Macauley said: “We caused them a headache or too, although I did wonder whether it would be our night after the penalty miss and then the keeper made a great save from Tom straight after that.

“But these boys believe in themselves; they’ve got tremendous energy and kept going.

“I sensed Hyde felt under the cosh and they were trying to slow us down – they had come for a draw and you could see after the final whistle how relieved they were to get one.”

Witton travel next to Whitby Town on Saturday before hosting Nantwich on Bank Holiday Monday.