Jason St Juste celebrates putting North Ferriby United 2-0 in front during the FA Trophy semi-final first leg with Bath City. Picture: John Rudkin
It is all to play for in the FA Trophy semi-final between North Ferriby United and Bath City after a 2-2 stalemate in the first leg.
Ferriby manager Billy Heath did not get his clean sheet, but his side head into the second leg next Saturday with home advantage being a potentially key factor.
Ferriby did lead 2-0 at one point until a controversial penalty started Bath’s comeback.
Jason St Juste, who was playing for Farsley AFC in the Evo Stik Division One North earlier this season, was the danger man for Ferriby.
His cross midway through the first half caused problems for Bath and after a scramble, Dan Ball accidentally put the ball into own net to give Ferriby the lead.
Tom Denton was inches away from doubling the score-line before suppling the assist for St Juste early in the second half.
His through ball found defender Ball, but indecision followed as he differed on the ball until St Juste dispossessed him and went onto score.
Bath’s fightback started on the hour when Mark Gray was adjudged to have brought down Dave Platt, who scored the penalty himself.
Bath were on the ascendancy and Nick McCootie secured the drew in the last five minutes.
North Ferriby United manager Billy Heath:
“It was a soft penalty award and it changed the whole tempo of the game. We were in control at that point and looking fairly comfortable. “
“The goal lifted Bath and they really came at us in the final 30 minutes. We let them push us back and the equaliser, for all it was a good finish, was a poor goal to concede.
“All that said, If somebody had offered us a draw before the game we would probably have taken it. It’s certainly all to play for next week.”
North Ferriby United: Nicklin, Topliss, Wilde, King, Gray, Hone, Clarke, Fry, Denton, Bolder (D’Laryea 66), St Juste. Subs unused: Wilson, Nicholson, Kendall, Peat.
Referee: James Linnington
Attendance: 1730