WINNINGTON Park endured a frustrating start to the new year when they conceded a late equaliser in North Wales.

Park, currently second from bottom in Northern League Division Two West, started brightly on Saturday and created chances at eighth-placed Northop Hall.

The visitors’ midfield of Julian Buckle, Adam Kueres, Andy Birdsey and Ric Evans looked to assert themselves and made the early running.

The forward pairing of Dennis Topping and Pete Evans also looked lively with the latter seeing two efforts rebound off the crossbar and then the post.

Danny Moores put in a stirling display at full-back and Park continued to threaten even when down to ten as a couple of players spent time in the sin bin.

Northop’s major chances came from set-pieces but John-Paul Dodd was more than a match for anything thrown at him in the Park goal.

After the break the visitors from Mid Cheshire finally broke the deadlock when Topping finished well after Pete and Ric Evans saw their shots saved by the keeper.

But with just minutes from claiming what would have been a much-needed win, Park could not hold on as Hall worked a routine set-play past the despairing Dodd to make the final score 1-1.

Park seconds claimed a great 2-1 win at Knutsford 2nds with John Stackhouse and Simon Pinson on target. The thirds fell 5-0 at home to Bebington 4ths while the fourths lost 4-2 at Golborne Sports 2nds (Joe Booth, Connor Miller).

This Saturday, Park host Northern at Sir John Deane’s (12.30pm), the 2nds host Chester 3rds (2.00), the 3rds travel to Runcorn 2nds while the 4ths are at home to Neston South Wirral 6ths (3.30pm).