Benburb started the New Year with a hard fought 2-2 draw with league leaders Shettleston. This was only Benburb's second game in two months and as a result it took the Govan side a while to get into their stride against a strong Shettleston side.

Shettleston started the game the stronger the side and almost scored in the 6th minute when Danny Taylor beat the offside trap only to see his shot well save by Ghattas. This was followed three minutes later when a James McKnight cross from wide on the left caught out Ghattas who was relieved to see the ball hit the bar and go over to safety. The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 19th minute when Andy Thomson scored from six yards only for referee Andy Tait to blow for offside. Shettleston's pressure finally paid off in the 25th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Scott Munro was adjudged to have handled. ANDY THOMSON scored from the resulting spot kick.

Benburb finally awoke from their slumber and put the Shettleston defence under some pressure. Mark Davis was beginning to cause the visitors problems and as a result Craig Halliday was booked for a late tackle on the Bens man in the 29th minute. Shaun Finan should have put Benburb level in the 39th minute when he could only chip the ball into the hands of Hutchison after he was put clear on goal. Benburb only had to wait another minute to equalise. After the Bens trialist was brought down at the edge of the penalty area, Tony O'Neill stepped up to hit the free kick. The big striker beat the defensive wall only for Hutchison to parry the ball into the path of BILLY FERGUSON who scored from close in.

HALF-TIME: BENBURB 1 SHETTLESTON 1

Benburb came flying out the traps at the start of second half. Two minutes into the second period and Benburb were ahead. A through ball from Mark Davis found TONY O'NEILL who beat the Shettleston offside trap and then fired home from 16 yards.

This fired Shettleston into action and in the 55th minute Ghattas pulled off a great save from a Taylor shot. The visitors equalised in the 65th minute when ANDY THOMSON headed home from a McKnight cross. The visitors should have gone ahead in the 69th minute when Taylor headed wide from a couple of yards at the back post.

Benburb missed a great chance to go ahead in the 76th minute when a Bobby MacMillan corner found Mark Davis at the back post, but unfortunately he was unable to guide the ball home. Benburb should have wrapped up all thee points with four minutes remaining when Lorn Gibson headed a Mark Davis free kick from close in.

BENBURB: Ghattas, McDonald, MacMillan, Munro, McInnes, Trialist, Gibson, Davis, O’Neill, Ferguson, Finan.
Subs: Martin (Finan 62), McLelland, Richford, Williamson (Munro 71), Currie.
Scorers: Ferguson (40), O'Neill (47)
Booked: O'Neill (25), McDonald (52), MacMillan (85),

SHETTLESTON: Hutchison, Cahill, McKnight, Martin, Caldwell, Currie, Dixon, Crichton, Thomson, Halliday, Taylor.
Subs: Da Silva ( Thomson 71), Mooney, Kennedy (Dixon), Ryan (Taylor 88), McIntosh.
Scorer: Thomson (25 pen, 65)
Booked: Halliday (29), Taylor (87)

REFEREE: Andy Tait