Jon Else’s second-half equaliser earned North Leigh a 1-1 draw in Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West on their first visit to Merthyr Town.

North Leigh had to withstand early pressure as the home side were roared on by a vociferous crowd.

They held firm until the 42nd minute when Merthyr’s long throw specialist heaved the ball into the box. Andrew Thomas beat Sam Warrell to it, and the ball bounced off his knee into the net.

But North Leigh were level six minutes into the second half as Kieran Sanders threaded a ball inside to Else, who drifted past a defender and drilled home a shot inside the near post.

John Mills tested Merthyr keeper Giles Cutlan with a powerful shot, before Michael Hopkins’s low cross just evaded everyone in the home penalty area.

North Leigh looked the more likely side to get a winner, and Stuart Hole’s free-kick was well held by Cutlan.

North Leigh: Warrell, Hole, Hopkins, Turk, Franklin, Caton, Else (Collins 86), Alexis (Walcott 76), Mills, Sanders, Coyle (Clark 67).

Attendance: 401.