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BILLINGE had to settle for a share of the spoils on Saturday in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Barrows Farm.

The visitors Crewe entered the new year on the back of a record - in 2019 - that saw them lose just three times in 24 matches and they came into this game in second place in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division.

However on 90 minutes, The Storks were feeling they maybe should have taken all three points.

Although there were four goals scored it was actually a tight game of few chances.

It was Billinge that had the first opening after five minutes when their tricky forward Harvey Lambert was upended 22 yards out.

Lambert stepped up to take the free-kick but uncharacteristically fired his effort over the bar.

Moments later Crewe’s Jordon Amson almost latched onto an excellent through ball from Nathan Tickle and then Keiren Halliday in the Billinge net saved well from a Nathan Southern free-kick.

The game burst into life in the 25th minute when James Dagnall made two great runs but couldn’t quite get his shot away.

It was to prove costly as two minutes later PJ Hudson - playing his first game back at Crewe after a stint in the North West Counties - put the visitors ahead.

Billinge’s players, management and spectators were incensed as the striker appeared to be clearly offside when he received the ball but the assistant referee’s flag stayed down and he neatly slotted home.

With Nial Dawson playmaker beginning to get into the game the home side were soon on the front foot as Marios Avraam was denied a goal by Crewe custodian Reece Quinn who put his shot behind for a corner; after a superb threaded ball by Dawson.

Then - on 43 minutes - the skilful midfielder found Richie Allen whose shot was deflected away for another corner.

While Billinge were now producing some excellent football it was a route-one goal that saw them draw level on the brink of half-time.

Halliday’s long defensive clearance found Avraam who managed to hold off two Crewe defenders before blasting home to make it honours even at the break.

It was the least The Storks deserved and they came out for the second-half firing.

Lambert headed narrowly wide from a Liam Thomas free-kick and then on 51 minutes Billinge were ahead.

A free-kick into the box from Dagnall was only cleared as far as Billinge captain Zak Riley.

The centre-half showed the skills of a centre-forward to bring the ball down on his chest, take it two steps before hitting a crisp left-footed shot into the Crewe net.

A moment later another Thomas free-kick caused havoc in the Crewe defensive ranks while at the other head Southern’s weak shot was easily-saved by Halliday.

The game was hotting up and in the 69th minute Hudson and Riley found their names in the referee’s book after a fracas on the edge of the Billinge box after The Storks skipper accused Hudson of diving for a free-kick.

On 77 minutes Southern had the ball in the net for Crewe but the assistant’s flag was up to deny him.

The action swung up to the other end where substitute Rob Lamont elected to try and shoot when a simple square would have put Allen in for an easy finish.

Avraam then took the wrong option by shooting rather than passing before the same striker - who had his best game in a claret shirt - had a superb header tipped over by a “worldie” save from Quinn.

On 80 minutes it was Nathan Ogden’s turn to be denied by Quinn as his header was well-saved.

Whilst Billinge looked the team to go on and get a third to put the game to bed it was Crewe that got their equaliser a minute later.

It appeared to all the world that Lamont was fouled but referee Jack Slater saw it otherwise, Crewe broke away and - despite an excellent initial save by Halliday - Hudson followed up and finished superbly to make it 2-2.

The final minutes saw Billinge attempting to snatch a winner as Avraam, Allen, Lamont and Danny Murphy all went close before the referee blew the final whistle on what was an excellent game.

After the game Billinge manager Wayne Wardle was content - if not a little disappointed with the draw - saying: “Crewe are a terrific club and if you’d given me a draw before the game I’d probably have taken it but I’m now thinking maybe we should have won as we probably had the better chances and dominated for large periods.

“However, it’s a good marker to where we are at as we know there is a lot, lot more to come from these lads and to start 2020 in fifth place is very satisfying.

“We always take it one game at a time and next week the League leaders Congleton Vale Rovers visit Billinge.

“So it’s another big test but one that we can’t wait for - and let’s see how it goes.”

That game is at Barrows Farm next Saturday, kick-off 2pm.