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A GOAL in each half gave NEWI Cefn Druids a draw against a young Peterborough United side at
Plaskynaston Lane.

Druids twice took the lead against their visitors from the Football League with Joe Feeney grabbing the first with a superb volley from 25 yards out and trialist James Hussaney getting the second after the interval following good build up play.

The Ancients had come close to taking the lead as early as the sixth minute when a right wing cross from Nicky Ward was headed narrowly wide at the back post.

But they did take the lead after 33 minutes when knock-down found Feeney 25 yards out and his well-struck volley found the top corner of Sam Cole's net.

Nine minutes after the re-start the advantage was nearly doubled when Chris McGinn's effort across the face of goal was tipped behind by Cole.

Posh restored parity three minutes later when Jirabanoy Josh stooped at the near post to head past second-half goalkeeper Dan Binnersley.

Hussaney linked up well with Kevin Holsgrove twice in a minute as Druids continued to utilise a 4-3-3 formation that showed signs of promise at Colwyn Bay on Saturday.

Firstly, in the 78th minute, the trialist headed down Holsgrove's left wing cross in an attempt to beat Cole, only to see the 'keeper read the bounce and save.

The roles were then reversed seconds later as Hussaney hit a powerful shot which Cole could only parry - but Holsgrove, who was first to the ball, screwed his shot wide with his right foot.

At the other end Darren Gorlay volleyed well wide when in a good position in the 80th minute.

That miss proved immediately costly as Matthew Cook's right wing cross was headed back across goal by Josh Russell and Hussaney was there to slot home from close range.

The lead was to last only four minutes, though, as Jack Lyons headed home from six yards out following a pin-point cross.

However, almost immediately, Holsgrove was once again denied as he cut in inside the Peterborough penalty area and unleashed a powerful effort which cannoned back off the crossbar with the 'keeper beaten before Hussaney fired narrowly wide with three minutes to go.

After the match Druids coach Carl Darlington said: "Everyone impressed. Nobody let us down which gives us a massive headache for the season in terms of selecting the starting eleven for the first game of the season.

"There was no set strategy in terms of the team that played in the first half and the team that played in the second. It was a case of them being a mixture and seeing how they got on.

He added: "Everything we saw on the pitch was off the cuff. We gave the players basic instructions such as formation and what jobs they can do.

"We wanted to see what the players' fitness levels were like, what decisions they made. Nobody has disappointed themselves which makes it hard for us to whittle down players for that opening game. But we would rather have that situation than not being able to attract players."

More of Darlington's post-match comments will follow.