Stamford Lions claim their first point of the Peterborough League Premier Division campaign with drawing with Holbeach United Reserves

Stamford Lions claimed their first point of the Peterborough League season after battling out a 2-2 draw at home to a lively Holbeach United Reserve side on Saturday.

Recent recruit Kuda Burutsa hit a second half leveller in the Premier Division clash after Lions had seen an early lead overturned by the Tigers who are one of only two sides still unbeaten this term.

Lions had got off to a perfect start when, with just over five minutes on the clock, new signing Richard Moore headed home an Ollie Smith cross to give the Stamford side an early lead.

Burutsa nearly doubled that advantage when he turned his marker but was denied by an outstanding save from Brad Waters when his fierce strike was palmed away

Holbeach struck back midway through the first period as the blistering pace of Jordan Keeble saw him burst past the Lions rearguard before chipping a cross back into the box which Josh Balding calmly slotted home.

The game picked up pace and both sides enjoyed spells of possession in an evenly-matched contest.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, Lions skipper Danny Sheehan won possession and carried the ball forward before being chased down by Keeble.

As the lively Holbeach frontman tangled with Sheehan to win the ball back, it left the Lions captain on the floor which looked like a clear foul.

The Lions players were incensed that a free-kick had not been awarded and, as the referee waved play on, the ball was rolled to Tommy Coote who made no mistake in slotting past keeper John Swales to give the visitors the lead at the break.

The home side settled themselves down at the start of the second period and pushed forward to try and carve out an equalising goal.

Moore rifled in a shot that smashed against the crossbar before Dan Aust flashed a free kick just over while at the other end Swales did well to tip over a fierce strike that was heading into the top corner.

Lions drew level with an hour played as Nicki Young charged down a clearance before slotting it into the path of Burutsa who picked his shot into the bottom corner and parity was restored.

The game swung from end-to-end as both sides had opportunities to snatch a third goal with Aust firing in a thunderous shot that the keeper was equal to while the Lions players screamed for a penalty when the ball struck an arm of a defender but their appeals were waved away.

At the other end, Sheehan hooked a goalmouth scramble off the line before Tom Fearns produced an excellent last-ditch tackle to prevent a goalscoring opportunity.

In the end both sides had to settle for the draw and the final whistle drew to a close an entertaining game.

Lions manager James Sheehan commented: “It’s a valuable point from a game we felt we could have snatched a win but then could easily have lost.

"I feel the draw is a fair result and we are pleased to have got off the mark and can now look forward.

"It very much feels like we are having rotten luck with key refereeing decisions at key moments and, if we look back at the games thus far this season, it seems like we are getting the rough end of the decisions.

"We had a big shout for a penalty on the hand-ball and I can only see a clear foul leading up to Holbeach’s second goal.

"We are feeling a little 'up against it' at this moment in time but overall this was a fair result and we are looking far healthier squad-wise.

"Richard (Moore) is an experienced frontman and we are pleased to get him on board while in Kuda (Burutsa) and Ollie (Smith) we have two young lads that are keen and will give us good energy in the side and both have the qualities to make a real impact.

"It's slowly coming together and things are on the up."