Middlewich Town 2 Daten reserves 2

A DRAW against lower-level Daten reserves was enough to see Middlewich Town progress to the President's Trophy quarter finals as group winners.

The outcome – dropping points in this year's competition for the first time – put an end to the Witches' six-game winning streak though and did not please co-manager Ross Speight.

“Unfortunately we dropped our standards and didn’t quite get going against a very hard working Daten side," he said.

"We have some very important games coming up so we must put the work in to get back to our high standards.”

Middlewich started off brightly enough.

Ollie Tobin went close in the opening minutes but the hosts fell behind after a mix-up at the back as Daten grew into the game.

Middlewich started to take control in the second half, with George Hopkins and Chris Lunn testing the goalkeeper.

Michael Whitehead equalised at the back post after captain Sam O’Sullivan and Hopkins worked a short corner quickly.

Town took the lead from another set piece when Chris Yearsley reacted quickest in front of goal.

Several good opportunities went begging before Daten equalised on the counter attack late on.

Middlewich return to Division One action this week, hosting Egerton on Saturday, 3pm, before visiting Lostock Gralam on Wednesday, 6.30pm.