Witton Albion 3 FC United of Manchester 3, Carl Macauley comments

Tom Owens' combination with Kyle Sambor gave Witton more threat midway through the second period and the result was a point won.

“I’m not usually happy with draws at home but the circumstances were we were 2-0 down in the second half and rightly so, they were better than us," said Macauley.

“But I can’t fault my lads’ character and attitude.

“I thought the two substitutions that we made, they came on and had fire in their belly.

“They had an impact and had that desire to go and run in behind the defnce and cause a problem.

"I was very delighted for both players, especially Kyle, a lad who has come from the lower leagues, hasn’t quite got into the starting XI but came on and was excellent for us.

“He got his two goals and was also a helping hand in the third goal for Billy Smart to get the equaliser.

"I always want to try our best to get three points but I’m really delighted that we came away with a point.”

Smart deserved his moment of grabbing the last-gasp leveller and being mobbed by both players and fans.

“Billy’s been really good for us this season," said Macauley.

“His energy levels are fantastic. He covers every blade of grass.

"And he just kept going and going, believing in himself.

“Again, it was a run to get in behind the defence and Kyle did ever so well to put it into the area and Billy took his chance well.”

Macauley was grateful for the support of Witton's fans in the 993 crowd on a day they were outnumbered by the travelling FC army.

“I’d like to thank them for getting behind the lads, even when the game wasn’t going the way we wanted it to go and we were 2-0 down," he said.

“You never heard them getting on the players’ backs, they kept on encouraging and trying to force that ball in the back of the net.

“Thanks for everything, we were outnumbered by their supporters, but it means the world to our players because it gives them a massive lift.”