A welcome return to football after 6 weeks saw the Quay put in a stirring seond half performance to leave Newbiggin with a valuable point after the home side had dominated the opening 45 minutes.
30 seconds into the game the Saints were dealt a huge blow as Dale Hood limped off with a shin injury after a challenge in the middle of the pitch an injury that was later confirmed as a broken leg. The midfielder will be a big miss after starting the season so well, Ben McDermott came onto replace him.
Newbiggin had won 3 out of 3 at home so far this season and they looked very sharp on a zippy pitch with forward Kyle Downey doing brilliantly in the box to turn his man but a last ditch tackle from Mr consistent Luke Taylor denied him a shot on goal with a timely challenge.
The Quay started like a team who hadn't played for a while and an uncharacteristic mistake from Captain Lee Crammond allowed Lucas to go through but great covering from Cal Ancrum saw him get back and stop him getting a strike away.
Saints top scorer Alex Foreman had his teams only real attacking moment of the half when he ran onto a pass down the left but his left foot strike was well saved by the legs of keeper Dean Brooks
AFC took a deserved lead on the half hour mark with a stunning goal, number 9 Stephen Lucas controlled a left wing cross before swivelling and smashing an unstoppable left foot strike from 25 yards that rocketed in off the cross bar past Dodga to make it 1-0
It should of been 2-0 at the break with Lucas again in the action as he dribbled his way into the penalty area before squaring the ball across the goal where it looked certain that Liam Halliday would tap home but he somehow sent the ball wide, a huge let off for the Quay.
After a stern half time team talk from Pugh and Henda Willington upped there game significantly as they started to keep possession of the ball much better and they had their best chance to score when Ryan Ferrier found himself unmarked at a corner but he mistimed his header badly.
Jack Renwick replaced Kingy just after the hour mark his first appearance since October last year while Brandon Williams also came on in place of Louis Hutton and 5 minutes after coming on he made it 1-1, the Quay were won a corner which was taken short to Sean Conway who took a touch before sending over a delightful cross which Williams met with a low diving header past the keeper and into the corner for his first league goal of the season.
Saints keeper Ethan Dodgson did brilliantly to come off his line and clear a dangerous ball through as both team searched for a winner in the pouring rain. Renwick sent a zippy low long range effort just wide of the post with the home goalie scrambling to see it wide while Ferrier found himself in space again at a corner but this time his left foot effort was well blocked as the Saints finished the game strongly.
In the final minute of the game Saints hearts were in their mouth when was cynically brought down just outside of the area when he looked to be running through on goal, the resulting free kick from just 20 yards was a huge opportunity for the hosts to win the game but the Saints in the wall stood firm to block the strike with the refs final whistle going shortly after.
A big point for the Quay against a fellow promotion rival and one that looked unlikely after a poor first half showing but they showed fantastic character to fight back and extend their unbeaten run to 8 games,
