A LAST-GASP equaliser by Zak Niblett secured a point for Castle in this local derby – a fair reflection on a game in which both teams showed promise in the first half.

Good saves by Dan Northey in Thornwell's goal were matched by two equally-good stops at the other end by Richard Beach who was in for the suspended regular keeper, Dave Maynard.

As the half drifted towards half-time, Dan Cucos broke the deadlock to take Thornwell 1-0 up at the break.

But Castle equalised soon after the re-start with a goal by Connor Maclennan from a great pass by James Reid and provider turned scorer to put Castle into the lead as Reid fired a 20-yard volley past Northey.

Back came Thornwell and they levelled and then retook the lead through Cucos and Ashley Young.

In the last minute, James McKeon won a free-kick just outside the Thornwell penalty area and even Beach was urged to join the hunt for an equaliser.

Joe O'Brien won the ball at the far post, nodded the ball back for Beach to shoot and Niblett deflected it home to send Castle's fans crazy.

"I was fairly happy with a draw," Castle's manager Dave Adamson said.

"Both teams were missing key players so under the circumstances a point each is good."

His opposite number Steve Bidmead saw it slightly different however.

"I thought we played really well at times and I thought we were the better team," he said.

"I'm disappointed with a draw after we missed so many chances but on the positive side, we are starting to play like a team and are playing some really good football.

"I said it would take time for the team to play my way and now you can start to see the signs,"

With Mathern's pitch ruled unfit, the only match in Division 2 was Blackrock Rovers' home game with Mardy where manager Paul Lovell said "naïve defending" proved costly.

"We were masters of our own downfall once again," he said.

"Some naive defending meant we were chasing the game from a 3-0 deficit."

Rovers managed to pull the score back to 3-2 with goals by Ben Smith and Luke James, and a point seemed to be on until they went down to 10 men through injury after Lovell had sent on all his subs and were caught short at the back, losing 4-2.