ETHAN Pheasey saved a late penalty to earn Earlswood Town a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with local rivals Knowle.
Earls goalkeeper Pheasey saved Tom Craine’s spot kick at the death after the Robins player had drawn his side level to cancel out Dan Elwell’s opener at the Draintech Community Ground.
The result means Knowle remain top of the Midland Football League Division Two table with Earlswood further back in 10th.
Earlswood stunned the league leaders with the game’s opening goal after just three minutes as Elwell drove towards the box before seeing his shot creep underneath Knowle goalkeeper Craig Johnson.
Elwell began the season with the Earls before departing for Knowle in November only to return to Earlswood in the New Year and marked the occasion with his 12th goal of the campaign.
Knowle looked for a response as Pheasey made a superb save to keep out a volley from 10-yards out with the ball destined for the top corner.
The Robins hit the post after the break as Nathan Corry’s glancing header came back off the woodwork from George Seeley’s cross.
However, Knowle’s pressure eventually told on 81 minutes as Craine’s header found the bottom right corner from a free-kick.
And the Robins won a penalty on 89 minutes after Harry Street committed a foul in the box only for Pheasey to easily save Craine’s tame spot kick and ensure the game finished all square.
Next up for both teams, Knowle host AFC Coventry Rangers at the Draintech Community Ground while Earlswood travel to Lane Head’s Somerfield Road with both games to kick-off at 2pm on Saturday, January 13.
