CLEETHORPES Town threw away a two-goal lead to draw 3-3 to Athersley Recreation in the club’s first ever Northern Counties East League fixture.

A Lee Stephenson penalty put the Owls ahead before Aaron Greenbeck poked in a second to give the visitors a comfortable lead.

Jason Bentley converted his first penalty of the day to pull one back before a superb Stephenson effort put Clee back in the ascendancy.

However another Bentley penalty in the second half, followed by a Briscoe strike, helped Athersley to a deserved draw.

Owls boss Andy Liddle sprang somewhat of a surprise by relegating centre back Richard Peck to the bench in favour of a central defence including Aaron Greenbeck and Simon Ballard. Matthew Coleman lined up at left back as Daniel Barrett was ruled out through injury.

It was a lively but balanced start to the game, as both newly-promoted sides looked to assert themselves on NCEL Division One.

The first chance of the game fell to the Owls as Jonathan Oglesby jinked his way down the left wing before reaching the byline and striking the ball with the outside of his left boot. It struck the post and went out for a goal kick.

The hosts’ first opportunity came after eight minutes. Declan Welford controlled the ball with what looked like was his arm, but referee Adam Smith disagreed and allowed him to swivel and shoot straight at Miles Fenty.

Clee scored their first ever NCEL goal after 17 minutes. Athersley defender Scott Alcock handled in the box, giving Lee Stevenson the opportunity to send Darren Shirt the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The lead was doubled three minutes later. Oglesby’s swinging corner was headed back across goal by Matty Coleman to Aaron Greenbeck, who poked in to mark his first competitive game for the Owls with a goal.

But just when it seemed that the Lincolnshire League champions could run away with it, the hosts were given a lifeline. Referee Smith originally turned down Athersley’s claims that Ballard handballed, but reversed his decision after consulting with his assistant. Bentley slid in the resulting penalty kick.

However a two-goal cushion was restored after 25 minutes in magnificent style. Stephenson shimmied his way past two Athersley defenders before smashing the ball into the back of the net, via the crossbar.

Oglesby and Greenbeck both had great chances to extend the lead before the break but the Owls went into half-time 3-1 up.

The hosts were much improved in the second 45 and halved the deficit soon after the break. Greenbeck’s clumsy challenge brought Athersley their second penalty of the game. This time, Bentley’s penalty was well saved by Fenty but he tapped in the rebound.

Moments after the restart, Oglesby could have restored Cleethorpes’ cushion but, having been presented with a one-on-one opportunity, he could only tuck the ball narrowly wide.

It was a missed opportunity which cost Liddle’s men. Just after the hour mark, Briscoe ghosted behind the Owls defence to finish coolly and pull his side level.

Both teams had chances to collect all three points in the final half an hour.

Coleman’s last-ditch tackle on Bentley prevented him from collecting a hat-trick while Ballard and substitute Lee McFarland both missed the target from inside the area.

McFarland seemed to be pulled back inside the box in injury time but the referee was unmoved, leaving both teams to settle for an opening day point.

Cleethorpes Town visit Pontefract Collieries in the first round of the Baris NCEL League Cup on Tuesday evening before hosting Bottesford Town in the league at the Linden Homes Club on Saturday afternoon.