A late strike from substitute Mason Platts earned a point for Kenilworth Sporting from second placed Knowle after another "never say die" performance from Ascroft's young team.

After last week's point against league leaders Fairfield Villa, travelling to second in the table Knowle was a tough ask for Kenilworth.

As soon as the game started it was clear what the home team's game plan was - their strong, experienced players were not going to let the young and energetic Kenilworth get into their stride.

Some tough but fair challenges set the tone for what Kenilworth had to overcome to get anything from the game.

Chances were sparse in the first half with neither side able to take the lead.

Kenilworth's best chance of the half fell to Dave Freeman but his shot was spectacularly saved by the opposition keeper .

The second half was much of the same, Knowle's physical back four defensively were dealing with Kenilworth's attacks as the away side came to terms with Knowle's breakaway tactics.

On 75 minutes a corner was delivered into the box where the Knowle centre half met it with a lovely bullet header into the Kenilworth goal.

Straight away kenilworth changed the formation and made two substitutions which definitely went to plan.

Teenagers Platts and Wills came on and immediately put Knowle on the back foot, picking up the ball, turning and driving at a tired Knowle defence.

With time added on, in the 91st minute, Platts picked up the ball wide right, drove at the Knowle defence, and from the tightest of angles his shot hit the far post and went in.

Speaking after the match manager Martin Ascroft praised the host team.

"You can see why Knowle are up the top of this league, big strong and experienced players that defend very well and have some decent lads up top that can hurt you.

"I'm delighted with my young squad on how they adapted to Knowles tactics and experience, we continued to try and play our way and I'm very proud of my players for that.

"We will continue to take each game as it comes and deal with what our opponents game plans the best we can.

"Delighted for Mason Platts, that's the second consecutive game he has got off the bench and got us a point in time added on, he is an exciting prospect and his no fear attitude in his first season in adult football is fantastic for me and this club."