Atherstone Town suffered a frustrating afternoon as they drew 2-2 at home against Stourport Swifts on Saturday afternoon. 

The Adders dominated the game for large periods, taking two goal second half lead thanks to goals from Lewis Collins and Ryan Harkin. 

However, a soft penalty decision and a heavily deflected equaliser allowed the visitors to rescue an improbable late point. 

Atherstone will look to put the result behind them immediately as they host Uttoxeter Town on Tuesday night. 

Performances, results, and the atmosphere around the Adders has improved immensely in the last month. The penalty shootout win against Shifnal in the FA Vase the week prior was evidence of the turnaround from the slow start to the season, and Atherstone were looking to continue that form with a result against Stourport. 

The Adders quickly settled into a comfortable pattern in the game, and started creating chances for the opening goal. Ryan Harkin saw a dipping volley tipped over by the visitors keeper, whilst Toby Nicoll headed an effort just over the bar and Connor Gudger saw a header from a corner go just wide. 

Stourport had their keeper to thank for keeping them in the game, as he produced a good save to deny a Lewis Collins volley from range before gathering Chris Cowleys rebound. He could do less about Collins near post flicked which somehow hit the post and stayed out, and was even more relieved to see Nicoll put wide when well placed. 

Atherstone were truly on top of the game, and the only real surprise was that they had not opened the scoring before the break. The visitors had offered little going in the opposite direction, but were still in the game going into the second half. 

The Adders continued to dominate the proceedings in the second half, with Tyreace Brown and Lewis Noon controlling the midfield, and both forwards causing problems with their darts in behind. Nicoll went close to a goal again before the deadlock was finally broken. 

Stourport were caught out by a ball in behind, which saw Harkin race clear of the defence and square the ball for Collins to slot home at close range. The opener was no less than Atherstone deserved, and looked as though it might open the floodgates. 

Harkin doubled the lead, after Nicoll showed excellent determination to get to a ball on the touch line and dug out an excellent cross for the forward to head home. Collins and Harkin were both denied again by the visitors keeper in the search of a third that would have truly put the game to bed. 

Stourport had hardly had a sniff in the game, but were handed a way back into the contest when the referee awarded a soft looking penalty after a challenge from substitute Thomas Healy. Darryl Knights converted the spot kick, despite Finn Osborn nearly getting a hand to it. 

Minutes later, Stourport struck an improbable equaliser as a speculative effort from the edge of the box took an almighty deflection which left Osborn stranded. Atherstone players, management staff and fans were stunned as they saw what looked like a comfortable home win turn into a draw that felt very much like a defeat. 

Whilst there were plenty of positives to take from the performance, the Adders will be looking to bounce back immediately in their next game as they host Uttoxeter Town on Tuesday 1st October. That will be followed by a trip to take on Whitchurch Alport away on Saturday 5th. 

Despite an ultimately disappointing result on Saturday, the team seems to have clicked into gear and if they can produce more performances like that one they will win more games than they lose. Be sure to keep getting along and getting behind the boys.