"A hard-fought game but a fair result".

Charlie Mpi did get the ball in the net but was given offside whilst the visitors appealed strongly for handball in the area, but it needed a great save from Paul Strudley near the end to ensure that we did at least get a valuable point.

There were a number of changes from Saturdays line-up, notably the debut of Charlie Mpi, who always looked dangerous and will obviously be a great asset to the squad. Mpi made the first impact when he headed in from Dean Stow’s cross after only 7 minutes, but the linesman’s flag went up and the effort was ruled out, but he soon headed past the post with another good effort.. At the other end Strudley saved well from Carl Preston as the game continued at a breakneck pace, but the two teams were generally evenly matched and the first half ended goalless.

With the slope in our favour after the interval, we looked dangerous, but whenever an attack broke down , the visitors soon put us under pressure. We were a little unlucky when Scott Rees turned the ball inside but it struck Lee Smith and rebounded clear and Nick Hutchins was quickly off his line to beat Smith to a through ball. Near the end the visitors attacked strongly and it needed a great reaction save from Strudley (pictured) to keep them out, but it was not alone way and the two teams slugged it out to the end, the referee adding over 5 minutes of injury time, with neither side being able to make the breakthrough.

It had been a hard-fought game and a fair result

Team:Strudley,Stow, John,Boardman, Day,Herring, Rees(Pook),Pilling,Mpi,Smith(Clark),O,Brien.

Match report by Ron Tarry