Beer’s mid-table clash with Newtown proved to be a very close affair in front of another good crowd at the Furzebrake with both side staking something for their considerable effort sin a 2-2 draw, writes Roger Hoare.

Beer started brightly with an early chance for Cooper that went just wide. With the regular goalkeeper keeper injured, Mike Westlake made a rare start for the first team and was in early action as the visitors began to probe down both flanks. Midway through the first half Newtown took the lead when Beer’s back four were caught too far apart and a simple through-ball was easily despatched beyond Westlake. As the crowd were thinking of half-time tea and pasties, player-manager Richard Walker rose like a salmon to head home the equaliser!

The second half saw good stops from both keepers before, with 15 minutes remaining home skipper Morgan under-hit a back pass and Newtown pounced to take a 2-1 lead.

The Albion faithful were beginning to resign themselves to a home defeat when, with three minutes left, good work between Cooper and Walker saw Chris Long rifle the ball home to ensure honours ended even.