Andy Caton salvaged a point for North Leigh after teammate Sam Warrell saved a penalty in a frantic finish to their Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West 1-1 draw against Shortwood United at Eynsham Park.

The deadlock wasn’t broken until the 78th minute when Shortwood substitute Ross Langworthy hooked the ball home from close range. It looked as if it may be all over for the hosts three minutes later when Langworthy was brought down by Caton as he chased a loose ball in the North Leigh box .

But Warrell dived low to his left to save Luke Gullick’s penalty.

And with time running out, Caton stole in at the far post to head home Josh Dutton-Black’s clever chip for the equaliser.

Caton then almost snatched victory for North Leigh, flashing a last-minute volley from a James Organ cross just wide.

North Leigh had created an early chance when Lewis Coyle’s shot from five yards was turned over for a corner by keeper Tom King.

Organ’s rising shot flew over the bar, but the best chance of the first half fell to Shortwood when Gullick raced through only to shoot inches wide.

North Leigh substitute Jimmy Deabill headed Michael Hopkins’s cross against the bar after the break.

Gullick then hit the bar for Shortwood with a long-range shot.

Not to be outdone, Hopkins fired a low shot against a post for North Leigh, before the game came to its conclusion.

North Leigh boss Mark Gee felt the draw was probably the right result.

“I thought it was a pretty even game,” said Gee.

“I think they surprised us a bit with their workrate. They made it very difficult because they stopped us playing.

“Neither team created many chances in the first half, but the game opened up in the second half.

“They scored against the run of play and then they missed a penalty, rather Sam Warrell made a good save.

“We then upped our game after that and equalised.

“After we scored, we missed two or three good chances, alth-ough Shortwood could have nicked it at the end.”

He added: “When we look back at this game later in the season, it will probably have been a good point.

“I thought we were a bit off the pace. “But it was fantastic to see Josh (Dutton-Black) back in action again. He hasn’t played for 15 months.

“We brought him on for 15 minutes and he set up our goal. But we’re going to take our time with him and not rush him back.”

North Leigh: Warrell, Hole, Organ, Turk, Franklin, Caton, Coyle (Deabill 57), Clark (Sadler 86), Mills (Dutton-Black 80), Sanders, Hopkins. Sub not used: Westlake.

Attendance: 87.