Smith strikes late to gain a share of the points

Following two splendid away wins which kept us on the fringe of the play-offs, we faced another difficult task, not only were the Centurions lying third in the league, but this is now a local derby, with the additional factor of the recent moves of Josh Parsons and Ian Herring from Bulpit Lane to the visitors’ ranks. As expected, it was a close-run thing, with few goal-scoring chances as the teams cancelled each other out, with a finicky referee awarding a host of free-kicks, some of them deserved, so that the game was a “stop start” affair a late equalizer which earned us a point was about the most we deserved.
James Clark got in a good cross, but no one was able to get a touch, whilst two good corners from Ed Williams caused panic in the goalmouth, Gary Horgan receiving lengthy treatment after an injury sustained in the melee. Paul Strudley saved confidently following a free-kick from Leigh Henry, and Glyn Garner repeated to effort at the other end following a free-kick from Dean Stow, but we had a set-back when skipper Jon Boardman suffered a back injury and hobbled painfully off to be replaced by Jon Munday who proved a solid replacement. Josh Parsons produced his usual committed display, but neither side was able to create a clear-cut opening and he first half finished goalless.
Mark Pritchett produced an excellent no-nonsense performance in defence, and he then came forward to get on the end of a Williams free-kick to give the visitors the lead early in the second half. as we found it difficult to prize open the visitors defence, too many passes going astray, although the introduction of Charlie Mpi and Alan O’Brien did add some impetus to the attack, O’Brien earning a scramble in front of the goal which the visitors somehow survived.
Time gradually slipped away with the visitors creeping slowly towards a victory, but 5 minutes from the end Lee Smith burst down the left and cut inside to score a splendid equaliser, so that honours were even, perhaps a fair result, although both sides lost ground with only a point apiece,
Team; Strudley, Rusby, Horgan, Boardman(Munday),Day, Pilling, Stow(O’Brien),Collins, Clark, Draycott, Smith. Subs; Goodger Rees.(Mpi),