YARDLEY claimed their first point of the season thanks to a hard-fought 2-2 draw at home to Pershore.
This was the last chance for Yardley to get any joy from the first half of the season in the Warwick league West Midlands Division One, and they will have been the happier of the two sides come the final whistle.
On another wet and blustery afternoon, Yardley’s young side lined up to face a much more experienced Pershore team, but the hosts were hopeful of taking something from the game.
They started very positively by creating several early chances as both sides looked to attack at every opportunity.
Yardley were grateful to keeper Neal Makepeace for some fine saves to keep them in the game and they were unlucky not to go ahead after seeing a shot on goal stopped on the line by a defender’s foot.
However, from the resulting penalty flick, skipper Zach Jarvis made no mistake to enable his team to take a slender one-goal lead into the break.
The second half continued in much the same way as the first with Yardley’s defence holding up well.
Gavin Hetherington was at the heart of much of the action and he was also able to surge forward at times by bringing the ball out of defence to help set up attacks for his side.
Pershore were creating many chances but were unable to convert them until eventually they were able to grab an equaliser from a short corner.
The visitors seemed to step up a gear after this and from another short corner they edged in front.
On another day that might have been the end for Yardley but their spirit and determination enabled them to stay well in the game.
From a short corner, skipper Zach Jarvis produced a superb drag flick effort on goal which gave the Pershore keeper no chance.
With a deserved equaliser under their belts, Yardley probed for a winner but in the end it was honours even in a thrilling game which saw Yardley claim their first point of the season.
