Tenbury United 2 Ludlow Town Reserves 2

IN front of a good crowd, honours finished even in this hard-fought West Midlands League Division One derby at Palmer's Meadow, where the very heavy conditions dictated the style of play. The result leaves both clubs in the bottom third of the table.

The match was always going to be a hard slog with good football and decent chances as likely to arise from mistakes as slick play. There was little real goalmouth action during a scrappy first half, and the only goal went to the visitors. When Ludlow played the ball through, keeper Byron Davies' clearance struck Adam Bowen, and he followed up to net from the rebound.

George Pearson, who has been short of goals recently, netted twice in the first 25 minutes of the second period to give his side the lead, and his own confidence a timely boost. Within minutes of the restart he tapped in the equaliser from a decent cross from the right wing, and later headed home when Ashley Botwood floated in a free kick. In between he hit the bar from 30 yards.

Ludlow sent on substitutes Nathan Chard and Andrew Stewartson, and the move paid quick dividends when the latter grabbed an equaliser with his first touch. He showed good confidence to lob Davies, who first came for the ball but stopped.

With Ashley Botwood and Johnny Welsh influencing midfield for the home side, and Chris Lloyd a rock in the Ludlow defence, the game petered out into a draw. There was one late scare for Tenbury, Bowen's low shot being chested off the line by Matt Kurkus.

This weekend Tenbury travel to play lowly Sporting Khalsa, while Ludlow Reserves entertain Hereford-based Hinton at the Coors Stadium, kick-off 2.45pm.