Lower Breck manager Gary Moore was happy to earn a point against Avro despite conceding in stoppage time.
Connor McCarthy and a debut goal for Macauley Clifton fired the Breck into the lead going into the dying embers after they fell behind on the stroke of half-time.
However, Kane Wallwork’s free-kick in added time denied the hosts the win and moved the Manchester-side level on points with second-placed Wythenshawe Town.
However, although the outcome was disappointing, there were plenty of positives for Moore as his side bounced back from falling behind to Enoch Likoy’s strike on the verge of half-time.
“When you concede so late it feels like a blow because it’s tough to take but you can’t be defeatist, it’s a good point in the end,” he told Off The Park.
“For the lads to come out, we could’ve sunk at half-time, it’s only 1-0 but they’re a good side Avro, they had the wind second-half and were quite direct. It’s a blow because we’ve took the lead, we’ve introduced four out of the five subs, which is positive in that respect, a sickening blow but not the end of the world.
“All credit to them, it’s a hard one conceding on the stroke of half-time in that manner but the lads were calm in there, we had a good discussion, what we needed to do a little bit more.
“We had opportunities to go to feet in the final third in the first-half, we didn’t, we were popping it up because Connor’s [Rankin] a threat and we played the ball in the second-half, Adam Pepper started dictating the second-half and we played a bit more – that’s where the goals came from.
“We probably got a bit of luck for our goals, same with theirs, it’s a great tackle for their goal, it’s spun to the kid and it’s a great finish but still they came out second-half and gave a good account ourselves which is what I’m proud of.
MATCH REPORT: Lower Breck 2-2 Avro: McCarthy and Clifton on target as battling Breck left bereft
“It’s hard, they had a free-kick in the danger area it’s hard to defend. We had a discussion there about what’s best in those situations but it’s a good point from where we’ve been, we’ve been three defeats on the spin coming into this, a few additions, it’s a good points who are up there challenging, a good side, we’re happy to take a point, gutted about the finish.”
During their preparations for the game, Lower Breck welcomed two fresh faces from Runcorn Linnets as Louis Holden and Macauley Clifton arrived on dual-registration from Dave Wild’s side.
Their involvement on Friday was from the bench but their impact was made on the game as Holden was introduced as right-back before Clifton came on behind the striker.
The tricky attacker proved his worth as he picked the pockets of the Avro defender and cooly slotted into the back of the net to hand Breck a lead late on.
A pleased Moore said: “I said to Louis [Holden] on the side ‘can you come straight on?’ It’s never easy coming straight on in that situation at right-back and he was all for it, straight into the play.
“Then Macca [Macauley Clifton] has come on, I’m going to take plaudits for the sub, he’s come on, the composure.
“He’s nicked the ball off two men, big lads, the composure to take it in, take it in. One of the lads said in the changies ‘bloody hell, you looked around that much, you looked like you were getting chased by the bizzies’. Great finish, they only trained on Thursday and showed their quality, made up for them.”
Although they only earned a point, the Breck boss was pleased with the application of his side. He concluded: “It’s going to feel like a defeat but from our point of view, we’re happy with the reaction in the second-half.
“Andy [Culshaw] give them a lot of information, we changed a few things, they followed it and that’s all I can ask. We’ve had games in the past where they’re not doing what we’ve asked them and today, they’ve done it to the letter. It’s a suckerpunch at the end but on reflection, it’s fair.”
