Crusaders hold Steelmen to a draw

This was a dramatic day’s football, for the top two, Weymouth and Poole, both lost, Weymouth ’s 3-0 defeat at Slough following their 4-2 home defeat by Paulton Rovers during the week, whilst Poole’s home defeat by Redditch ended their unbeaten home record.. Meanwhile our draw at high-flying Corby was a great effort, ending the Steelmen’s run of five successive league victories, it would have been six, but for the abandonment of their game at Truro due to floodlight failure last Saturday when they were leading 2-1 with 5 minutes to go. The league will have a tough decision as to whether the result should stand, or whether
Corby should face another 600 mile round trip to Cornwall to replay the game. We do not envy their dilemma !
There had been heavy overnight frost at Corby , but the pitch was in excellent condition, although a bitterly cold wind made conditions unpleasant for players and spectators alike. Nevertheless some 450 braved the elements and were rewarded by a close game which ended in stalemate with a goal apiece. Corby came out of the blocks strongly and soon put pressure on our defence, gaining several early corners. Our defence was well organized, however, with Matt Day (pictured) outstanding in the middle as we suffered a torrid first 20 minutes.
Despite the pressure, Paul Strudley was seldom in real trouble as he easily dealt with any efforts from the home side, and we almost took a surprise lead when Mark Draycott netted following a free-kick from Matthew Collins, but the effort was disallowed as the referee had apparently not signalled for the kick to be taken, so that the first half ended goal-less,
A good break down the right from James Clark early in the second half came to nothing when his low cross was cleared, but it was the home side who opened the scoring after 58 minutes, Wilson Carvalho heading in from a free-kick, and we immediately responded with a triple substitution and equalized after 64 minutes, Alan O’Brien winning a throw near the corner flag which fell to the unmarked Draycott who volleyed neatly past Paul Walker in the home goal.
Near the end we looked much more dangerous, a low cross from O’Brien only finding the side netting and another cross from the same player flying across the face of the goal, but a draw was an excellent result after a good team effort. Although we are now 6th.the league table is still very close and there are at least 10 teams still in contention, and anything can happen.
Team; Strudley, Horgan, John, Rusby, Day,Rees(Pilling)Clark,Collins, Goodger(Mpi), Draycott, Smith(O’Brien). Subs; Munday, Wilson