The visitors were delayed by traffic problems en route and did not arrive until well after 3 o’clock, the game eventually kicking off at 4 o,clock, but those who patiently endured the long delay were treated to an exciting game of fluctuating fortunes with the Saints eventually salvaging a draw deep into injury time, a result which left us in 6th. place in the league.
Perhaps the visitors were affected by their difficult journey and late arrival, but whatever the reason, they found it difficult to get going, whilst we started in fine form and commanded the first half, establishing a 2-0 lead at the interval. A speedy break down the wing by Alan O’Brien soon threatened the visitors, but in his second run, he suddenly pulled up with a muscle injury and took no further part in the game, Stefan Brown coming on to replace him. We earned a couple of early corners and, following one of these, eventually took the lead after 15 minutes, Rhys Tyler scoring with a shot off the underside of the bar, We continued to play some of our best football of recent games and increased the lead with a splendid goal after 36 minutes, with a great move by Tyler who played the ball inside for Nat Jarvis to finish off the move with a decisive finish.
The game took a sudden turn after the interval when Paul Strudley raced off his line in an attempt to reach Matt Day,s back pass, but brought down Matt Hawkins just inside the penalty area , Tom Meechan scoring from the inevitable penalty after 56 minutes.
The visitors were encouraged by this goal and made it 2-2 after 63 minutes, Mitchell King heading in from a corner. The Saints now began to push forward and looked dangerous, but we did not give up and Scott Rees fired over the bar and was them denied by a goal-line clearance as we battled to re-establish our superiority, Harry Goodger eventually driving the ball home following a corner after 83 minutes as the tide turned again and we now looked the likely winners, but after over 4 minutes of injury time , Jamie Anton fired in a shot through a crowd of players to make it 3-3, the final twist in a game of ebbing fortunes which we were so close to winning.
Team; Strudley, Horgan, John, Rusby, Day, Jones(Rees),Tyler, Collins,Jarvis, Draycott(Goodger), O’Brien(Brown) Subs; Stow , Bossman.