Norreys retured to league action with an away tie against Shefford at the alternative location of Ecchinswell.
The game started very well for Norreys creating a geat opportunity to score when Ali was played in down the left hand side from the kick off and went only narrowly wide after only 12 seconds.
Norreys though were made to pay almost straight away when after a delviery from the left into the Norreys box bounced kindly for the Shefford player who powered the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards out for a 1-0 lead after only 2 minutes.
Norreys were not not put off by this early setback and continued to have the majority of the possession and were pretty much camped in the Shefford half for the next 10 minutes. Norreys were creating plenty of scoring opportunities but were finding it difficult to get the equaliser with efforts from Ali, Joao and a long range effort from Redders wide of the mark.
It was definitely not through the lack of trying as Norreys were finding good space down both flanks, particularly the right and on 15 minutes Ali put in a cross from the right for Andy to neatly slot psat the Shefford keeper for the equaliser.
The game was now all Norreys and the shot count was rising by the minute with headers from Ali and Brad bringing good saves out of the Shefford keeper plus a number of tame efforts from the edge of the box.
It looked as if it was just going to be a matter of time before Norreys took the lead and finally on 41 minutes Ali was played in by Wilkesy who raced on into the area and chipped the ball up over the keeper before passing it into the back of the net for a Norreys 1-2 lead.
Just before half time there was a rare attack from Shefford where some last ditch defending by Wilkesy as his 'toblerone' shaped boot was able to slice the ball off the line and up and over the bar retaining a 1-2 score line at the break.
Norreys again started the second half on top looking to build on their 1 goal lead with the game getting more physical in midfield with Shefford trying to get back into the game.
This physicalness was very evident only 3 minutes into the second half when a full-bloodied 50-50 was well won by Neil only for the Shefford No.7 to follow through on the tackle completely wiping Neil out. After a brief mele involving several players the referee had decided to send off the Shefford No.7.
Now with a man advantage Norreys pressing even more for a third goal and were creating plenty of chances without being able to find the net. Neil latched onto a ball just outside the box and jinxed his way past 2 Shefford defenders and the Shefford keeper but at the critical moment mis-hit the shot which was cleared by the Shefford defender on the line. Efforts were coming in from all angles with Ali, Andy, Joao, Wilkesy and Clarkey all having efforts in the second half.
The tackle on Neil was proving more of a hinderence than first thought and Norreys were forced into making a substitution with Rob coming on at left back and Wilkesy moving into midfield.
The chances kept coming for Norreys but were struggling to find the third goal they so needed and were made to pay when a cross from the right hand side looped up over the keeper who could only divert the ball into the side of the net for 2-2 on 75 minutes.
Norreys were still looking for a third goal and the chance were still coming but just coudn't find a way past the Shefford keeper and somehow Shefford were able to keep out Norreys for the remainder of the second half with final score 2-2.
Managers man of the match was Brad Simpson.
