Daisy Hill are still searching for their first league win of the season in the North West Counties League First Division North after being held to a 2-2 draw away at MSB Woolton on Saturday.
Goals from Lee Grimshaw and debutant Joao Soares had Daisy two goals inside 33 minutes, but MSB Woolton striker Tega Okeregha pulled a goal back seven minutes from half time, before Daniel Ventre levelled for the hosts eleven minutes from the end with a goal that secured their first league point of the season.
Daisy began well, and debutant Soares caught the eye early on when he raced down the left flank, rode a challenge, and cut in before rifling in a shot that was beaten away by home keeper Daniel Jennings.
Soares was involved in winning the free kick that led to Daisy’s first goal on 16 minutes, when another surging run led to him being tripped on the edge of the box.
Kaiden Barlow curled in a free kick that Jennings could only parry out into the path of Grimshaw, who coolly slotted the loose ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Daisy began to dominate the possession and doubled their lead on 33 minutes, when a cross into the box from David Norris was met by Soares, whose perfectly struck volley gave Jennings no chance.
Up to that point MSB Woolton had only sporadically threatened in attack, but they pulled a goal back six minutes before the break.
A neat through ball down the inside left channel caught out the Daisy back line, and Okeregha reacted quickly to race through and side foot past Daisy keeper Morgan Newns.
But Daisy came close to restoring their two goal lead on the stroke of half time, when Barlow just failed to connect at the far post with low driven Grimshaw cross.
After the break MSB Woolton began to enjoy more possession, and on the hour Daisy keeper Newns made a terrific one handed save at full stretch from a Ventre header.
A minute later a clearance from Newns landed at the feet of Joe Harvey, whose attempt to lob the ball over the out of position keeper missed the target.
Daisy did threaten briefly when home keeper Jennings fumbled a Grimshaw shot before grabbing the ball at the second attempt, but as the half wore on, most of the action was in the Daisy half as MSB Woolton began to apply pressure.
After Chris Moran headed just wide from a corner, Newns made a fine diving save from an Okeregha shot, before the home side finally drew level 11 minutes from time.
The lively Okeregha was involved once more, winning the ball in a challenge with Jacob Ridings before sending a cross into the box that was met by a glancing header from Ventre that just crept inside the far post.
It could have been worse for Daisy two minutes later when a Harvey header rebounded off the post with Newns beaten, but despite a late flurry from Daisy that saw an effort from Roberts miss the target and a Ridings shot that was deflected for a corner, both sides had to settle for a point.