Report | City denied at the death

City were denied victory right at the death as a stoppage time equaliser from the visitors saw it end in a 3-3 draw.

The early action saw a towering header from Ben Richards-Everton from a corner dip just over the crossbar as we started the game with real purpose.

We were seeing the majority of the early ball; the only effort of note from the visitors in the opening exchanges saw an effort from distance sail high, wide and handsome.

A sweeping move, which was started by Sopuruchukwu Obieri, who was clattered for his trouble, saw King Baidoo force a corner which the visitors managed to scramble clear.

Some more slick play on 16 minutes ended with Joe Hanks digging out an effort that was watched all of the way by the ‘keeper.

Elis Watts looked to make something happen with quick feet on the edge of the area only for the visitors to get numbers back to block.

They could do little to prevent Watts from giving us the lead soon afterwards when Baidoo’s ball into the area rebounded into his path and he was able to sweep home.

More lively play out wide from Baidoo caused problems for the visitors in the wake of the goal and this time his cross was half-cleared as far as Hanks who teed up Ed Williams but his effort flew well over.

As we continued to pile on the pressure, Harry Pinchard cut inside before getting in an effort that was on target but the ‘keeper was equal to it to make the save.

With the clock ticking down at the end of the opening period, Watts tried his luck from distance as his effort flashed narrowly wide and then right at the end of the half, Baidoo looked to make something happen only for the half-time whistle to bring a halt to proceedings as we went in a goal to the good having had all of the possession.

The second half started in much the same vein as the opening period had ended with City on the attack and Watts linked up well with Dylan Jones who forced a good save from the ‘keeper at his near post.

On 51 minutes, Hanks threaded through Baidoo whose strike was well saved low to his right by the ‘keeper before Michael O’Regan was booked for a foul near the halfway line as the visitors looked to launch a rare foray forward. In the aftermath Ed Williams was shown a straight red card, leaving us to face the final 35 minutes with a man less.

We failed to let it affect us too much, though, as Pinchard picked up a loose ball before driving into the area, checking back inside and placing the ball beyond the reach of the ‘keeper with a low strike to double our lead just before the hour-mark.

After Hanks got in a tame effort that failed to trouble the ‘keeper, the visitors went close when James Gurteen’s header from a corner went just over the crossbar and then Harry Emmett had to be alert to block a low cross.

From the resulting corner, Pierce Mitchell was able to reduce the arrears as he turned the ball home from close range in the 67^th minute despite Jared Thompson’s best efforts to keep it out and all of a sudden, the visitors had the bit between their teeth. So much so that just a couple of minutes later, JJ Lacey tried his luck from distance to level matters.

Resilience? Yes, we’ve certainly got it in abundance and straight from the restart, Jones embarked on a run full of passion and determination that ended with him regaining the lead for us, as the T-End erupted.

The frantic nature of the game calmed down somewhat after the goal. Visiting substitute, Sean Duodo missed a great chance as the offside flag stayed down and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

There was heartbreak in stoppage time when the visitors scrambled home a leveller through Luke Andrews after the ball had hit the crossbar and then been headed off the line. We just couldn’t clear it and despite our protests, the goal was given as honours ended even.

CITY | J. Thompson, Jones, O’Regan, Williams, Watts (Roberts 89), Hanks, Richards-Everton, Pinchard, Emmett, Baidoo (Phillips 89), Obieri (Morgan 60). Subs not used: C. Thompson, Z. Pinchard.