In front of a crowd of 340, Horden went ahead through Liam Wright in the 21st minute, but Easington were soon level through Liam Adamson.

Neil Fannan regained Horden’s lead five minutes into the second half, before Easington once again equalised through Jack Pounder.

Pounder’s second of the evening in the 80th minute looked to have claimed the points for the Green Army, but Marc Ellison’s injury time equaliser meant the points were shared.

With regular goalkeeper Joe Atkinson unavailable, new signing Jak Wells started for Easington, while Adamson made his first start since his return from injury.

Upon kick-off, it was a relatively quiet start apart from Wright putting a fifth minute effort well over for Horden.

Easington’s first real chance didn’t come until the 19th minute, but it was a good chance. Dylan Elliott manufactured a lovely ball over to release Adamson, and he charged down on goal but could only shoot wide.

Two minutes later, at the other end, Horden broke the deadlock. Jack Maskell was allowed possession inside the Easington half, and he worked the ball out to Wright who found a way to the corner of the penalty area on the left before drilling a lovely finish in off the underside of the crossbar.

In the 28th minute, Easington Colliery equalised. An advantage was played from a Horden offside, and the Colliers quickly worked the ball forward. It found Pounder who did well to turn and pick out Adamson in space, and Adamson drilled the ball beyond Graeme Pickering to make it all level.

Not a great deal happened in the final 15 minutes of the first half. Both sides were playing at a quick pace and looking to attack whenever possible, but neither could create any clear-cut chances.

Following the break, Easington started well, and Pounder had a header dart wide before another Pounder effort was saved in the 48th minute.

However, with their first real attack of the second half, Horden regained their lead. A quick attack down the left saw the always dangerous Wright whip a cross into the penalty area, and Fannan was there to convert from close range.

Kyle Middleton shot wide as Easington looked for a response, before Horden almost doubled their lead on the hour mark. Olly Hotchkiss’ top corner bound free-kick forced an impressive save from Wells, and Fannan somehow missed the target with the rebound.

The Colliers could have been two goals down at this point, but in the 62nd minute, the Green Army equalised. Middleton pressurised goalkeeper Pickering forcing an error, and Pickering’s attempted clearance dropped straight to Pounder who levelled the score with a confident finish.

Now level again, Horden seemed to sit back, and Easington were seeing more of the ball and more of the attacks.

Pounder and Niall McGoldrick both went close twice each, before the Colliers scored what looked to be a winner in the 80th minute. Elliott’s corner was swung into the area and after a scramble, Pounder bundled the ball into the net to put the Colliers ahead for the first time in the game.

As expected, Horden pushed for an equaliser in the final 10, and after a half chance in the 87th minute, the Marras pulled level in the first minute of added time. Wright had scored one and created one so far, and he also created the third. In honesty, he looked a few yards offside as he was picked out on the wing, but the assistant referee disagreed. Wright drilled a low ball into the penalty area, and it found a way through to Ellison who was left with a simple finish.

A draw was probably fair, but both sides well have felt they could have won it.

Full-time: Horden CW 3-3 Easington Colliery

Horden CW: Pickering, Bowes (c), Campbell, Hodgson, Simpson, Ellison, Fannan, Hotchkiss, Maskell (Turnbull), Fowler, Wright

Unused subs: Bell, Hubbard, Tarn, Davidson

Easington Colliery: Wells, Burlace (Thompson, 65′), Lincoln Barrow, Best, McGoldrick, Ord, Pearn, Middleton, Pounder (c), Elliott, Adamson (Cahill-Taylor, 74′)

Unused subs: Fenton, Home-Jackson, McGuinness