Dunston took on the 230 mile round trip to Liversedge in their first away trip of the season, heading to Clayburn on the back of Saturday’s hard fought 1-0 win at home to Pontefract Collieries.

The hosts came into the game on the back of a heavy 3-0 defeat at league newcomers Garforth Town, despite having Adam Clayton under their belt, who played 213 games for Middlesbrough and played 27 times for National League side Rochdale last season.

Dunston started the game as the better side, as Harvey Neary got forward early on and played a good ball across the six yard box, but no-one was there to meet it.

The hosts had a half chance within ten minutes, as Alfie Raw laced a low, hard effort towards goal but it was met by a good save from Dunston’s shot stopper Dan Lowson.

It wasn’t long before Dunston took the lead, as Dale Pearson pulled the ball back to the skipper Michael Pearson, who bent an effort towards the bottom corner and past the hands of Liversedge goalkeeper Dylan Parkin.

Dunston failed to build on their early lead, as they slipped away in the game and the hosts grew into it after a slow start. Dunston’s hero of the day Scott Lowery was forced into a sublime block to stop a certain equaliser after some poor possession from Dunston. 

Jude Swailes was also needed to keep the 1-0 lead before half-time, as a mistake from Dan Lowson gave the perfect chance for Liversedge to score, but Swailes managed to throw his body in the way to keep the score as it was.

Liversedge started the second half the better side, with a big chance to take the lead, but once again a huge block from the Dunston back line kept the clean sheet intact.

On the fifty-eighth minute, referee Jack Churchill made the suspect decision to send off Scott Robson for a second yellow card offence. The first for a very soft foul on the halfway line, the second for what appears to be a clash of legs in the penalty box.

This left Jon McDonald’s men down to ten men, meaning they had just over thirty minutes to preserve their clean sheet and pick up three points.

Just after the incident, Dunston had their only chance of the second half as Dale Pearson finessed an effort towards the bottom left corner, but it was narrowly wide of the post.

The rest of the half conisted of heroics from Dunston centre backs Scott Lowery and Jude Swailes, and a number of sitters from Liversedge players.

The home side had plenty of chances to put the ball in the net without Dan Lowson to stop them, but they put the ball wide multiple times and also hit the recovering Dunston centre halves.

On the eighty-seventh minute, Dunston’s luck ran out as Liversedge substitute Joe Walton finally finished and smashed the ball into the back of the net to level the score.

Dunston tried to get bodies forward to regain their lead late on, but the points were shared in the end.

Jon McDonald’s side remain unbeaten in the 2024/25 season, heading into their massive FA Cup clash with local rivals Whickham on Sunday, 18th August. 

Written by Adam Richardson

Image credit - Beauty Time Photography