Some lacklustre defending cost Windscale two points against lowly Farringdon last night as a goal feast at the Falcon Complex ended in a 4-4 draw.
Prior to this fixture the visitors had only scored eight goals and conceded 23 in their previous seven league fixtures.
It was a poor start by the Atoms conceding two goals in the first 11 minutes as a result of poor anticipation and positional sense. Farringdon took advantage with goals by Callum Brennan and James Carr.
Despite the best efforts from Andrew Begbie, Lewis Jolly and debutant Elliot Lowrie the deficit was not reduced until the 33rd minute. Lowrie set up the unmarked Jolly who stroked the ball beyond Farringdon keeper Dean White.
The visitors had a chance to regain their two-goal advantage five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty, but home keeper Fin Stephenson denied Connor Barnes with his second spot kick save of the season. It left the visitors 2-1 ahead at the break.
A further three goals were registered in the first 10 minutes of the second period. The Atoms levelled in the 48th minute then took the lead five minutes later.
It was Jolly who levelled the scores when he successfully converted the second spot kick of the game, firing home past White. Jolly was also involved in the goal that gave the Atoms a 3-2 lead as Rhys Singleton headed home his cross from the right.
Not to be outdone, Farringdon came back to level the scores at 3-3. Following more woeful defending it was Carr sending a close-range header beyond Stephenson.
The Atoms fought back to take the lead again. It was Ross Leeson who edged the Atoms in front, finding space at the right-hand edge of the box he fired the ball across White into the far corner of the net.
Following a substitution by the Atoms in order to take more control of the end-to-end nature of the game, it was Farringdon who gained parity again.
The visitors’ best attacking moves had come down their right flank and with five minutes left to play, the Atoms failed to deal effectively with a long throw into the penalty area. The loose ball was smashed home from 18 yards by Barnes.
Windscale created a few half chances in the final few minutes with Farringdon deservedly hanging on for the draw.
The Atoms are on the road again on Saturday when they travel to take on Anfield Plain.
Listen to Windscale manager Stephen Fawcett’s views about the game below:
