Linby draw opening day thriller in front of bumper crowd

Linby started the seasosn with a 4-4 thriller.

It was a brilliant point for a Linby said who did not lead once during the game.

It took the game a while to spark into life, as both teams probed, in a tight opening half an hour.

It was the visitors, with pacy brand of high pressing and counter attack play, who stormed into a two goal lead.

Tom Eccleshalls precision free kick found the bottom corner on 36 minutes.

A typical pacy counter attack saw the lightening fast Surtel Tefra, in one on one, finish with aplomb three minutes before the break.

Linby got a goal back on the stroke of half-time, when Connor Gillan and debutant Sean Craven did well to set up Linby’s newest signing Brad Newby.

He then found the bottom corner with a precise finish to get the hosts back in it.

The visitors restored their two goal lead on 50 minutes, when Tefra, scored from the penalty spot, after being adjudged to have been fouled by keeper Jack Leverton.

A couple of tactical changes for Linby, saw 17 year-old Harley Shooter and Ben Jones come on as substitutes.

Linby’s midfield of Kurt Harrison, Tom Hilton and the talented Newby began to dictate play, and on 60 mins, the home team had a goal back.

James Hallam finished well from eight yards after getting on the end of Newby’s cross.

Shooter and then Hallam went close, before on 65 mins, Linby were level.

Jamie Thomas’ cross field pass saw Ethan Fells find Hallam on the edge of the area and his quick turn and shot beat Mickleover’s keeper Tom Smith.

The visitors hit the front again with three minutes left after a neat finish from Tefra.

But, the resilient home team were not to be denied and, in stoppage time, Danny Tring headed home to rescue a point.

LINBY. Leverton, Thomas, James, Tring, Fells, Harrison, T.Hilton, Newby, Craven, Gillan, Hallam.

SUBS. Jones ( for James 50m) , H.Shooter ( for Gillan 50m) , B.Hilton ( for Thomas 70m )

MAN OF THE MATCH. Brad Newby