Mersey Valley missed the chance to go back to the top of the Cheshire League 2 after a 2-2 draw with Haydock on Saturday afternoon.

With Nathan Wilson and Aaron Johnson both ruled out with injury, Jack Renshaw came in at right-back and midfielder Jordan Downing returned to the starting line-up.

The visitors started well, Roach with a brilliant block and Cooke with a good save in the opening few minutes.

Valley had chances too, from a Riley corner, Adams saw his header cleared off the line and scrambled clear.

The home side took the lead on 18 minutes, Deering with a brilliant run down the left hand side, beating two Haydock players before setting up Riley, his shot was blocked but Woolley was in the right place at the back post to fire the ball into the back of the net.

Ewan Roach kept busy by the impressive Perrin

Valley were on top, Deering and Dignan again combined down the left hand side and the ball fell to Evans on the edge of the box – his drive was blocked on the line and the danger was cleared.

Woolley and Deering then combined causing problems and forcing a couple of corners, from the second from Riley, Roach timed his front post run well and saw his flick hit the top of the cross bar.

Haydock responded with a good break, the league top scorer Perrin causing problems and his shot also hit the top of the bar. Cooke was then called into action, Corrigan with a great chance when put clean through but the player of the month was quickly off his line to smoother the chance.

Valley had a great chance to make it 2-0 just before half-time – a brilliant through ball from Deering put Evans away but his finish was poor and the danger was cleared.

HT: Mersey Valley 1 Haydock 0

Mersey Valley made a good start, a Woolley corner was nearly punched into his own goal by the Haydock keeper.

The game was a open and end to end with both sides pushing for the next goal but it was the visitors who took their chances to turn the game on its head and it was the dangerous Perrin who did the damage.

On the hour they levelled. A good passing move found Perrin free in the area and he coolly slotted the ball past Cooke. Seven minutes later the comeback was complete, Haydock winning the ball to easily and Perrin again finding space in the area to give the visitor the lead.

Valley were fortunate not to go down to 10-men when Roach was penalised for a hand ball which seemed to deny the Haydock striker a clear run on goal but the referee chose to only award the free kick.

Mersey tried to force the play, Deering always causing problems down the left hand side but the quality in the final third again let the home side down. It felt like it was going to take something special to get them back in the game and that proved to be the case.

Captain Marvel! Riley with the equaliser late on

It was captain Joel Riley that provided the quality, the ball breaking nicely for him to hit a brilliant dipping 25 yarder over the keeper into the back of the net.

Mersey had the best chance to win the game in the 90th minute, Dignan with a great cross but Adams couldn’t get enough power on the header and the chance was cleared and the points were shared.

FT: Mersey Valley 2 Haydock 2