Paul Burton admitted a point was perhaps a fair reflection as his Marske United battled back to level against an in-form Crook Town at the John Keegan Stadium.

The visitors hit the front after a stunning strike from debutant Zac Niven, but otherwise couldn’t breach the brick wall that is Mike Algie.

James Rowe hit back for the Seasiders in the closing stages, his first goal for the club during a run of games utilised as a makeshift centre-back.

Burton had high praise for the Durham-based opposition, and thus was pleased with the efforts of his side.

He argued Marske looked the better footballing side, and perhaps could have pinched all three points in the dying stages during a late onslaught.

“The pleasing thing for me is that we’ve kept the unbeaten run going.” He said.

“I tried to mention that earlier in the season when we went on a four game unbeaten run. It’s just about momentum isn’t it? It’s about keeping that momentum going.

“They’re a good side. I felt when we played them at theirs and we beat them one-nil it was a good game. They’re a good team.

“They’ve changed personnel and they’re a little bit more direct now than they were then. They’ve got a couple of big strikers, one quick lad and one very big centre forward. They play to their strengths.

“Defensively, I thought we were outstanding. Tommy Marron, James Rowe, ‘Scholesy’ and ‘Tommo.’ Micheal as well in the first half was outstanding. I think he probably kept us in the game sometimes.

“It could have been two-two, or maybe even three-three at halftime. They had chances, we had chances.

“They’re a big threat from free kicks and set pieces. The instruction at halftime was for us to try and restrict that if we could.

“We felt if we could restrict that, then we were the better footballing side, and I think in the second half we probably edged it, and we could’ve pinched it.

“Overall, I think a draw was a fair result, and I think Crook would probably agree. Both sides going for it at a hundred miles an hour.

“I’m absolutely delighted. From going a goal down, we didn’t buckle and take a backwards step. We kept going and got a well-deserved equaliser, and like I said, we could’ve pinched it.

“I thought there was only one side in the last ten minutes who was going to win it. But, if we can’t win it, then the important thing for me is that we don’t lose it, and that was the pleasing thing for me today.”

Marske’s levelling goal come through an unlikely party in James Rowe, his first for the club in almost fifty appearances.

The makeshift centre-back took a touch, turned and finished with the composure of a forward, putting the cherry on top of another stellar performance since his return from injury.

“It was a great finish.” He said.

“I’m sort of stood looking at it as he gets it and spins and hits it. It hits the post and I was thinking it was going to come back out!

“We’ve asked James to do a job for us at centre half. He prefers to play centre midfield and that’s where he’s played for all of his career.

“He’s been absolutely outstanding for us, a massive part of this run of games that we’re on now, him and ‘Tommy.’ They give us a bit of a bedrock to build off.

“I’m delighted for him.”