A goal from substitute Noel Clynch was enough to earn the Quay a point on their return to the second division as Seaton Burn struck late to deny the saints all 3 points on the first day of the 2014-15 Northern Allliance season.
Before the game their was a perfectly observed minutes silence as the 2 clubs and referee payed their respect to Dylan Sweeney (Son of Alliance ref Barry Sweeney) and John Alder who sadly lost their lives in the MH17 air crash.
The first half was a scrappy affair with both teams struggling to create any openings captain Mark Henderson went closest for the saints after 15 minutes as his free kick flew over the wall and hit the post with the Seaton Burn keeper stranded. Moments later the saints were forced into an early change as new signing John Ellis was forced off with a nasty looking ankle injury with Noel Clynch replacing him as a makeshift striker.
Seaton Burns best chances of the first half saw Carl Henderson dive low down to tip away a long range effort from the Burn right winger and then deny the Burn striker as he raced through one on one with a comfortable save those were the only efforts of note as the Quay back line looked solid with new signing Kyle Austin impressing at centre half.
With half time looming the saints upped their game with Liam Taylor prominent as he ghosted past the Seaton defence with ease first finding Andy Breheny who strike was blocked and then Stephen King whose speculative overhead kick didn't come off and the teams reached half time goalless.
5 minutes into the second half the saints took the lead Mark Henderson found Noel Clynch with a fantastic diagonal ball which the substitute chested down before cutting inside his marker and smashing home a powerful left footed strike from 12 yards to grab the first goal of the new season and give the Quay a deserved lead.
The saints could of doubled their lead but Andy Breheny fired across the face of goal while well placed and Mark Henderson's second free kick attempt when just wide of the post as Seaton Burn seemed startled at conceding an early second half goal.
The failure to add a crucial second goal would come back to haunt the Quay though as Seaton Burn raised their game in the last 20 minutes and with the saints players tiring Jonathon Sutcliffe took advantage of some hesitant defending before firing a stunning shot past Carl Henderson from 22 yards to equalise for the home side.
The last 10 minutes went by without drama as both teams failed to create anymore opportunities of note and the game petered out into a draw with the saints feeling frustrated they never hung on for their first opening day win since 2007.
Team. C.Henderson, M.Austin (Latimer 65), Macbeth, D.Johnson, K.Austin, Gibson, King, M.Henderson, Taylor, Breheny, Ellis (Clynch 18)
