Lairds’ first team got back to league action as they entertained Abbey Hulton United, but could not get the win to take them out of the bottom three of the North West Counties First Division South.

A good opening to the game saw Lairds creating chances while staying solid at the back, but they had to wait until the 27th minute for Kieran Hamm to put them ahead.

Within two minutes, Matthew Plant levelled matters as slack marking let him in, but Lairds soon recovered and captain Ryan Smith edged them ahead in the 33rd minute when finishing at the back post to give his team a half time lead of 2-1.

The visitors came out fighting in the second half and applied plenty of pressure on the Lairds goal, but goalkeeper Casey Shakeshaft repelled them with some great saves until Jamie Turner equalised in the 69th minute.

The final ten minutes saw Lairds gain the upper hand as they surged forward, but they wasted a number of chances as Jack Darlington forced a save from the visitors’ goalkeeper Zak Hill and Ben Wood blazed over when well positioned to score.

The rearguard action of United retained their hard earned draw and they stay fifth after the 2-2 encounter.

Lairds: Shakeshaft, Davies, Drummond, Beaman, James, Cartwright, Johnston, Catesby, Hamm, Smith, Eaton

Subs: Used: Darlington, B. Wood, Speed; unused: Waring, O’Brien

Goals: Lairds: Kieran Hamm (21’), Ryan Smith (33’); Abbey Hulton United: Matthew Plant (29’), Jamie Turner (69’)

Lairds Man of the Match: Jack Davies