A SECOND half equaliser from Chris Laite forced Causeway United to settle for a point against Coleshill Town.

Laite exchanged passes with Danny Carter before coolly slotting past Tom Turner to give his side a deserved share of the spoils.

The visitors had enjoyed the better of the first half but found themselves trailing to Scott Devlin’s penalty, after Danny Priest was felled in the box by Liam Mansell.

Devlin saw a header saved by visiting keeper Will Stannage late on, while Coleshill’s Chris Charles had an effort cleared off the line in stoppage time.

Causeway would have fancied taking all three points before the game but in the end could not begrudge a share of the spoils to Coleshill, who were marginally the better side over the 90 minutes.

In the first half an hour there was only one team in it as the hosts struggled to settle, while the visitors were justifiably fuming over the manner of the opening goal.

There were no complaints over the decision to penalise Mansell for a poor challenge on Priest. But the Coleshill players and management were aggrieved over the incorrect award of a throw to the hosts second before.

Causeway were better after the break and could have gone two up but Aaron Lloyd shot wide when through on goal. It proved a crucial miss as Laite levelled things up just two minutes later.

There were a couple of missed opportunities for the visitors early on, with Rob Seal failing to react in time after a cross from Sam Wilson missed everyone and cannoned wide off his knee with the goal gaping.

Nathan McBean was an even bigger culprit. An air-kick by Causeway’s Adam Meacham allowed Laite to race away down the right and when his pull back found McBean six yards out, the striker could only sky his shot well over.

Lloyd had Causeway’s best opening of the early exchanges but shot weakly straight at Stannage. Carter repeated the trick at the other end.

With Coleshill looking by far the more dangerous, Causeway’s opener arrived out of the blue. The visitors thought they had won a throw in out on the left wing but the decision went the other way and neat work between Lloyd and Scott Stevenson set up Priest, who was hacked down by Mansell.

A lengthy delay ensued as Priest was substituted and the visitors protested but when the time came Devlin kept his nerve to finish high into the net from the spot.

Buoyed by the goal, Causeway finally began to settle and Lloyd saw a cross-shot hurriedly hacked away. Craig Gregg, on for Priest, shot badly wide after being played through by Andy Wells while Carter had a golden chance to level on the stroke of half-time but fluffed his lines in similar fashion.

The lively Laite had the first sighter of the second period but his effort was comfortably gathered by Turner. Barry Fitzharris then came closest to levelling but saw his drive from the edge of the box deflected wide with Turner a relieved spectator.

But Causeway were showing more promise in attack and Stevenson nearly embarrassed Stannage with a fierce snapshot, which the keeper clumsily punched just wide of the post. From the corner, Matt Aston saw a shot blocked.

Then came Lloyd’s big chance to extend the lead. Gregg’s clever flick sent his team-mate clear but Lloyd opted for power rather than precision and saw his shot sail wide.

It proved a crucial moment as just a minute later Coleshill broke, with Carter playing in Laite who rolled a sweet finish past Turner.

The visitors suddenly had their tails up and Fitzharris soon tested Turner with another effort. The Causeway stopper then had to be alert to race out and beat Carter to a loose ball after a dreadful slip by Darren Whitley.

At the other end, Meacham shot wide following a powerful run and Stevenson saw a dangerous cross hacked away.

Carter was guilty of missing the best chance of the closing stages as he tried to be too cheeky with his finish after a delightful breakaway, with the final effort being comfortable for Turner.

Causeway’s final chance fell to Devlin but after a nice move an inviting cross from Aston, his header from six yards was well placed but lacked the power to beat Stannage.

Heading into stoppage time Coleshill saw shouts for a penalty waved away and Charles so nearly snatched all three points in a goalmouth scramble. But the scores stayed level.

CAUSEWAY: Turner, Sproston, Meacham, Whitley, Aston, Reynolds (Ashman 80), Stevenson, Devlin, Lloyd, Priest (Gregg 36), Wells (Poole 67) Subs not used: Hind, Field.

Goal: Devlin pen 36.

COLESHILL: Stannage, Lanns, Hakner, Charles, Mansell, Seal (Goodby), Fitzharris, Laite, McBean (Davis 60), Carter, Wilson Sub not used: Gasiewski.

Goal: Laite 71.