This game played at the Bell Homes sports field in a a very picturesque setting on the bank of the Manchester canal.
Two sides with plenty of endevour, very serious about winning but a little short of quality.
Both sides needed to lighten up but the only lightening up we got in the course of the match was an off the field incident in the shape of a lady cyclist who was making her way along the canal path.
One of the player's kicked the ball out of play,the ball hit the ladies bike, mysteriously wedging under one of her pedal's,she flew over the handle bar's landing awkardly but not sustaining any injury, the
lady got up dusted herslf down and was heard to say, what odds could you put on that happening, she rode off smiling and shaking her head in utter disbelief,as an onlooker you couldn't have scipted the incident, we had our lighter moment.
Todmordon kicked off and soon got into the rythem of launching high balls into the Richmond half.
The first real shot was from Borough by winger Farray,his effort going well over Richmond's keeper Robinson's crossbar.
Richmond where not giving the home keeper McGrath any problem's, the only exception being a freekick that flashed over the bar from midfielder Mike Mason after striker Martland had brought down just outside the penalty box.
A big penalty shout by Borough was waved away by referee Mr. Martin much to the dismay of the Borough bench.
The first half was very scappy both teams giving the ball away which hampered the fluency of the play.
Borough opened the scoring directly after halftime,some indicisive defending by Richmond left Borough winger Farray with an easy tap by the post.
The goal left Richmond momentarly stunned, but credit to the home side they play to there strength's.
Richmond made a substitution, left midfielder Morton on for striker Cliffe, the change had the desired
effect on 60 minute's when Morton headed the equaliser after an excellent cross by winger Hanson.
The headed assist by striker Murt finding the goal score Morton played an important part in the build up
Could Richmond find a the winning goal as the sun was disapearing behind the Pennine hills
The defining moment of the game came in the last 10 minute's when Richmond thought they'd sealed the
match, a well flighted freekick by Lee McNabb found Mason on the far post,the midfielder out jumped the Borough defence and found the back of the net, only to see the linesman's flag raised for offside.
Richmond where denied a perfectly good goal, the linesman flagging for a player who was not interfering with play when questioned later.
A dubious decision but as the say, you win some you lose some and a point was good enough in the end as teams below Richmond didn't fair to well either,but we'd had our lighter moment.
Manager Chris Clandon was far from happy, the referee has to go with his linesmen or were would we be? It speaks volumes though that after consulting with their linesman after the game the referee has apologised to both myself and our club president for the mistake. The liner flagged for Anthony Murt who did not touch the ball and was not interfering. Whether the liner made a genuine mistake or flagged just for the sake of it only he will know.
In all fairness a draw was probably a fair result as we didnt test the keeper enough but if you score 2 goals then you hope to win away from home, which we did.
The referee had an excellent game in general as he was put under constant pressure by Todmorden in various ways from the first whistle. Their style of football is certainly one i never expected to see at this level however you have to adapt and do your best. Our players especially my keeper was targeted from very early on, he'll be black and blue tomorrow. Constant fouls, long high balls and the ball in the canal more times than enough made today a dreadful spectacle to watch, however we did try and get the ball down and play when we could and our effort was second to none. No one will enjoy playing Todmorden on their own ground and the fact they are unbeaten at home is too their credit.
Writes's George Clandon.

1 Robinson
3 Wright 4 Taylor 2 Cooney
5 Martland 6 Jones 8 McNabb (C) 7 Mason 11 Hanson
9 Cliffe (12 Morton) 10 Murt
Subs unused 14 Blakeman 15 Clandon 16 Disley

MOM - Michael Mason