North Wiltshire B 2 Wotton-under-Edge B 2
FOR much of this keenly contested match it looked as if an outstanding centre forward and goalkeeper would give North Wiltshire the spoils.
Inside the first minute their club's top scorer of the last few seasons, Jeremy Downing, got a deflection on a free hit just into the visitors' D to loop the ball just inside Richard Timoney's far post.
If that was fortunate, he showed his class after 15 minutes when a rare Wotton defensive error gave away the ball just outside the D and Downing clattered a second goal home from an accurate pass from his twin striker.
Particularly given the number of junior players in the visitor's team, it was greatly to their credit that they strengthened their game in response rather than buckling, and for the rest of the match they deservedly had the lion's share of the possession.
The delightful skill of juniors Alistair Hammond, Aaron Sycamore and Chris Gee, and the incisive running of midfielders Mike Froggatt and Ian Gill drew an increasing number of fouls in and around the North D.
However, their keeper had a magnificent game, in particular when saving from a string of one-on-one situations as Wotton's much improved passing sliced through the defence.
With just over three minutes left to play, Phil Eacott gave skipper Alan Hooper a perfect return ball from yet another penalty corner. The keeper's diving save to deny a powerful shot flew back to Hooper who slammed the ball home before the keeper could recover.
Already rattled by the concerted pressure, the home side simply fell to pieces and with a minute to go a swashbuckling run by Gill from his own half removed all defensive cover.
His pass to Hammond was too good and although the ball was deflected by a defender's foot the young striker powered a reverse-side sweep high into the net.
This was undoubtedly the best performance of the season from Wotton's third team and a draw against such tough opponents was the least they deserved.
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