Finley Wilkinson strikes in Histon comeback to earn a draw with Shepshed Dynamo in Northern Premier League

Finley Wilkinson pounced in the 90th minute to seal Histon's comeback in a 2-2 draw with Shepshed Dynamo in the Northern Premier League, Midlands Division.

Despite being two down with 10 minutes to go, the Stutes fought back to clinch a point through Wilkinson and Max York.

Histon went into the match in the league’s relegation play-off spot, lifting themselves out of automatic danger following a victory over Carlton Town and a draw with league leaders Ilkeston.

In the opening 10 minutes, neither side was able to stamp their mark on the game, with both midfields struggling to gain an upper hand.

With 20 minutes on the clock, Dempsey Arlott-Jones burst through for the visitors and took a clean shot on his right that was kept out well by Histon keeper Sam Roach, producing the game’s first real chance and save.

At the other end, a goal-line scramble on the half-hour mark saw Shepshed somehow deny Histon the opener as right-back Charlie Lewis had his chance cleared off the line.

Ten minutes later, Histon’s Bubba Camara floated in a brilliant cross after shrugging off a defender, which was headed over by captain Ed Rolph, who will be disappointed not to have scored.

The sides went into the half-time stoppage with the deadlock intact.

Coming out after the break, a free header from just over six yards out from Shepshed’s Toby Ritzema glided over the crossbar.

However, Shepshed converted this momentum in the 55th minute, finding the breakthrough to make it 1-0.

Jack McMillan curled one in at the near post after a neat cross from left-back Jiah Medrano, capitalising on Histon’s struggle to clear their lines.

The 74th minute saw Shepshed double their lead after Ritzema glided through the Histon defence to slot past Roach with ease, seemingly sucking the life out of the home fans and players alike.

But against the run of play, Histon were awarded a penalty in the 83rd minute for a handball. Centre-back York stepped up to bang it to the keeper’s left, breathing life back into the Stutes with five minutes to go.

Just as the game looked to be nearing a Shepshed win, Wilkinson delivered the goods for the Stutes after drilling his shot under Ganley, sealing the comeback for Histon in a rocking Bridge Road.

Chaos in the closing stages saw a mass melee result in referee Kavanagh brandishing two yellow cards, leaving a slightly sour taste in the mouths of both sets of supporters.

Finishing 2-2, Histon will look to go one further and grab all three points next time out against Corby Town on Saturday, March 5.

Histon: Roach, Lewis, Bexfield, Towner, York, Brookes, Rolph, Muyembe, Thorpe, Camara, Wilkinson.

Substitutes: Smith (Camara, 74), Cole (Muyembe, 74), Lindsay (Thorpe, 82). Not used: Collison, Key.

Shepshed Dynamo: Ganley, Haprper, Medrano, Smith, Betts, Ritzema, King, McMillan, Arlott-John, Rogers, Morris.

Substitutes: Melbourne (King, 69), Prenderville (Arlott-John, 77), Snedden (McMillan, 86). Not used: O’Neil-Brooks, Kanga.

Referee: Simon Kavanagh.