SUBSTITUTE Marc Smith came off the bench to earn Eastwood a point after an entertaining affair at Matlock on Tuesday night.

Wayne Diuk for Alastair Asher and teenage keeper Alex Goddard in for the injured Ian Deakin were Eastwood's changes for this cross-border clash at the Geoquip Stadium.

'Kendal revisited' just about summed up Eastwood's inept show and for fans and some players to try heaping blame on Sheffield-based referee Craig Grundy is a measure of just how poor Eastwood were.

Accepted, the very tall official is not always up with play, but on a night when at least two from each team could have been red-carded, he did not produce a single card and my only real criticism came in injury-time.

From the start, Eastwood besieged Andy Richmond's goal and the talkative keeper (how I wish our custodians gave equally brisk instructions to defenders!) was stranded when Ian Holmes came in from the left and curled a shot just outside his near post.

The ex-Gladiator striker was then put through by Anton Foster but crowded out by three defenders.

Holmes then got away on the right and crossed for Matt Rhead who could not make contact.

In 35 minutes Rhead lost possession tight on Eastwood's right touch-line, level with the 18-yard line, and the ball flew quickly from Lee Featherstone to Gary Webster and on to Ross Hannah, who just ran away from the visiting defence, went round Goddard and slotted home for a well-worked opening goal.

From then on, Eastwood struggled. Nobody could accuse them of lacking effort but of science and art there were few signs.

Just on half-time Foster initiated one of the few moves on the turf. He, Richard Dunning and Holmes operated a skilful triangular passing raid and the last named claimed a good stop from Richmond.

For the large band of Badgers fans the second-half was purgatorial torment with the home side immediately forcing two corners.

Things got steadily worse and quite how Hannah and, even more spectacularly, Dene Cropper missed open goals defied belief.

Matlock came closest to a second when sub Nathan Benger worked himself space to cross and find Steve Warne, whose diving header hit the post.

As the home side continued to make - and miss - literally countless chances with Goddard exposed to constant threat, they eventually paid a hefty penalty when Smith latched on to a long aerial ball and headed over a hopelessly stranded Richmond, and despite Ryan Davis's efforts to clear off the line, the ball dropped in for an 89th minute equaliser.

With scarcely two of the 'minimum three' minutes injury-time played, an Eastwood free-kick was sailing into the goalmouth when Mr Grundy, who had just defused the latest 'handbags' incident, blew for time.

Inevitably, Mark Hume crashed the ball past Richmond. In truth, Eastwood will never be luckier.

Best Badger? I think I'll pass.

Eastwood Town
1 - Alex Goddard
2 - Wayne Diuk
3 - Chris Shaw (Alistair Asher 65)
4 - Mark Hume
5 - Simon Sturdy
6 - Kris Mathews (Lindon Meikle 65)
7 - Anton Foster
8 - Richard Dunning
9 - Ian Holmes
10 - Matt Rhead (Marc Smith 65)
11 - Russell Cooke
Subs not used: Craig Swinscoe, Paul Robinson
Attendance: 410
Referee: C Grundy (Sheffield)