TWO wonder goals left honours even in the local derby clash between Whitchurch United and Tadley Calleva in Wessex League Division One at Longmeadow on Tuesday night.

In an excellent end-to-end game it was visiting Tadley who opened the scoring as Jason Kingston struck with a bullet shot from 40 yards after 27 minutes.

Whitchurch levelled five minutes later as Pa Touray found Rio Francis and on the volley he fired in a 30-yard equaliser.

Before that the home side had a couple of chances from Luke Walker, but both one-on-one chances ended up wide of the target.

Tadley’s goalkeeper Lee Allen was called into action to save from Paul Coventry as the sides went in level at half-time.

After the break, ’Church goalie Tom Hindmarsh had to pull off a good save to deny Tadley’s leading goal scorer Jason Graham and then Allen did well to keep out a chance from sub Ashley Childs.

After the game both managers agreed a draw was a fair result and so they will have to wait until the return at Barlow’s Park on Saturday March 16 for bragging rights to be decided for this season.

Tadley boss Danny Dolan said: “I am delighted with the result as Whitchurch are a very good side. I am sure any neutral at the game would have gone home happy as it was a great end-to-end game.”

Whitchurch manager Jim Macey said: “It was a good local derby on a pitch which was tricky. Danny will be more happy with the point as we were on a bit of a roll after three wins.

“Credit to Tadley’s young players. They worked their socks off and really closed down our midfeld.”

Last Saturday, Tadley’s game at Cowes Sports was called off at 9am as the team were getting ready to travel, while Whitchurch’s trip to Hythe and Dibden was also a victim of the weather.

Both Whitchurch and Tadley are without games this weekend. They are next in action a week on Saturday, when ’Church travel to Stockbridge, while Tadley entertain Andover New Street.