Windscale’s five-game winning streak in the Wearside League came to an end against Richmond at the Falcon Ground.
However, their unbeaten run continued with a 1-1 draw as they snatched a late point with a never-say-die approach.
The visitors were first out of the trap producing some sharp raids on the Windscale goal and had the home defence under pressure on a number of occasions.
Although the home side were fortunate not to concede in the first few minutes the breakthrough goal didn’t take long.
It came in the 8th minute when a long ball deceived the Windscale rear-guard and was driven into the left hand bottom corner giving Ian Studholme in the Windscale goal no chance to make a save.
This was the wake-up call the home side needed and they proceeded to exert their own influence on proceedings.
The Windscale back four of Dan Morgan, Joe Atkinson, Steve Walker and Ryan Byrne eventually got to grips with Richmond’s long ball tactics.
However, Windscale’s two front runners Lewis Jolly and Kieran Fraser were finding it difficult to carve out chances against a resolute defence.
Jolly, particularly with his pace down the right, and Fraser who had been a regular scorer in previous games, were given few opportunities against two well-drilled central defenders. As a result the visitors went in at the break still in front by the single early goal.
The half-time words in the Windscale changing room galvanised them into a much improved performance.
With Ben Graham, Mat Metcalf, Coady Scott and particularly Reece Fretwell beginning to dictate things in the middle of the park, they were making more of the opportunities.
However, Richmond came within a few inches of adding to their lead with 20 minutes remaining when a shot cannoned off the angle of the post and crossbar and was eventually scrambled to safety.
As the game entered into three minutes of added time, it looked as if the visitors would hang on to their slender lead and take all three points.
A high ball into a crowded Richmond penalty area in the final seconds of the contest, was seized on by Matt Metcalf who directed it past the Richmond custodian into the bottom right-hand corner.
It gave Windscale a deserved share of the spoils and reward for their persistence and never-give-in attitude.Windscale’s winning streak
