Poynton Kings 3 Mary Dendy 3
Tim Morris (yellow and blue) of Mary Dendy tangles with King's Tom Hopkins
Having shared the spoils last season with one win a piece a both teams were keen to kick the season off with a win but in an exciting game a draw was a fair result with both teams having chances to win late into the second half. Mary Dendy dominated the opening exchanges with Matt Morris opening the scoring after five minutes when King’s defence failed to clear a long throw in from Dendy’s Matt Martin.
They could and should have increased their lead but as chances went begging Kings hit then on the counter and Scott Wright smashed home an equaliser past stand in keeper Chris Shepherd. Micheal Ritchings made it 2-1 to the visitors on 33 minutes volleying home from 18 yards. Five minutes later Kings were back level, Alastair Breed, clear of the Dendy defence swivelled and fired home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the penalty area.
In the second half with Kings in the ascendancy it was Dendy who took the lead for a third time. Tim Morris sent brother Matt clear down the left wing and his cross found Mike Richings unmarked to score with a spectacular diving header from 12 yards. The scoring wasn’t over though as back came Kings again as Kieran Nolan made it 3-3. It made for a frantic finale but when referee Kevin Lofthouse who had a fine match in the middle ,blew for full time both teams breathed a sigh of relief they hadn’t lost.
