Newark and Sherwood draw against Pinchbeck United in the United Counties League

A late penalty denied Newark and Sherwood a vital victory in Saturday's United Counties League clash with Pinchbeck United.

The Highwaymen looked to be heading for their second success of the Premier Division North season after goals from Luke White and Tom Jones had given them control of the contest.

However, Pinchbeck produced a revival in the final stages of the contest at Collingham and equalised from the penalty spot with just a couple of minutes remaining.

Newark and Sherwood had gone into the match just one point clear of the Knights in the league standings.

They probed for an early opening in a scrappy first half with Luke White shooting wide from a Jones pass and then sending a free-kick past the Pinchbeck goal.

Liam Marsden headed straight at Pinchbeck goalkeeper Lewis Cox from a Liam Mays throw-in before the visiting custodian was well placed to keep out a Mays header following Kian Sketchley's free-kick.

The Highwaymen then made the vital breakthrough seven minutes before the interval with White on target from the penalty spot.

A misplaced back pass was intercepted by Jones who was brought down in the area by Ben Robson with White converting the resultant spot-kick.

The hosts looked to increase their advantage before the break with Jones and White both shooting wide with shots from distance.

Pinchbeck came out strongly for the second period and enjoyed a decent spell but were indebted to keeper Cox - who is dual registered with Collingham - for making a fine save to deny Jones.

The Knights then levelled 11 minutes into the second half as Andre Williams turned home a cross.

However, parity lasted just five minutes as Newark and Sherwood rallied and regained the lead through a fine strike from Jones after an excellent pass by Sketchley.

Jones was again denied by Cox as the Highwaymen looked for a third goal to put the contest beyond their battling visitors.

However, it failed to materialise and the visitors were awarded a penalty for hand-ball with just two minutes remaining and Kelvin Ibeneme kept his cool to ensure they returned home with a share of the spoils.

Midfielder Arun Jones was named man of the match for the Highwaymen and he was disappointed that his side hadn't taken the full three points.

He said: "I thought we were the better side and had no end of chances which we haven't converted.

"There were positive signs there and on another day we would have scored five or six."

Newark and Sherwood host bottom-of-the-table Hucknall Town on Saturday.