Kippax 2 Pool 2

LEADERS Pool surrendered a two-goal lead as they were held to their second draw in three games on an afternoon when their Division One tittle rivals Carlton won to reduce their lead to ten points.

Carlton have three games in hand as well having to play Pool twice, so the title race looks to be heading for a interesting finale.

Pool needed some desperate defending and two fine blocks from keeper Andy Caine to keep out an early Kippax raid.

This woke Pool up and they took the lead when Steve Preston placed his shot perfectly.

They were two up soon after when Sam McCaffrey converted a penalty. The rest of the half was comfortable for Pool with the win looking a formality.

Kippax had other ideas and came out in the second half determined to make a game of it. James Carroll had to head off the line while a Kippax defender followed suit minutes later.

Pool hit the crossbar and had numerous shots cleared or saved. The missed chances were to prove costly as the game wore on.

Kippax had fewer opportunities but managed to pull a goal back from close range. Pool's bad day was sealed when a Kippax free kick from way out was struck low. It passed all the players in the box and crept just inside the post for a fortuitous leveller.

Pool now need to return to the form which put them so far in front at the top of the league as the run-in starts in earnest.

Pool Reserves drew 1-1 at Hall Green Reserves in Alliance Division Two. Their scorer was Jamie Algar.