BLACKROD and Eagley beat the weather to stage an entertaining 1-1 local derby draw - one of only two Premiership games played in the West Lancs League.

The referee passed the pitch fit just before the kick-off but the bumpy surface hardly helped either side to play a passing game.

It suited Eagley's more direct approach but Blackrod, to their credit did their best to move the ball around with the result that both sides created early chances.

Mark Height of Blackrod and Eagley's Rob Howarth both hit the side netting with half chances but after that both defences began to take control.

The home side suffered an injury blow when new keeper Dave Hedley badly twisted a knee. With no sub keeper on the bench, Hedley did his best to play on but was eventually substituted by striker Johnny Saxon after 44 minutes.

Before that, however, Blackrod pounded the Eagley goal but Eagley keeper Warren pulled off good saves to twice deny Height and Tonge.

Blackrod continued to dominate the game after half-time, twice having strong penalty appeals turned down but they eventually gained their reward in the 68th minute when Height's persistence caused a mix-up in the Eagley defence and Sam Grundy fired in the opener.

Blackrod kept up the pressure forcing the Eagley keeper into more good saves but on 83 minutes, Blackrod conceded a free kick and Eagley central defender Andy Wilkinson fired in an unstoppable free kick.

And Eagley might just have stolen the points in the closing minutes only for sub keeper Saxon to produce a great save to keep out a goalbound effort from Barry Darbyshire.