Title Hopes Gone

This particular contest was more relevant as a benchmark for what needs improving for next year.

The performance that followed against champions elect, North Greenford, would suggest very little, although disappointingly another draw was scant reward for a game that was dominated by us from start to finish.
The procession of chances started as early as the fifth minute, when a well directed forty-yard pass from Andrew Weir was controlled and coolly finished by Daniel Bennett to give us the lead. Our shell-shocked hosts should have fallen further behind in our next attack, when an opportunity for Matt Ellis was squandered as he dragged his shot wide.

With the game almost entirely played in the attacking third it seemed a second was only a matter of time, and it nearly came following good work down the right involving West and Todd, which resulted in Todds chipped shot beating the keeper to rebound agonisingly back off the post and out of Malik Buari`s reach. With it being one-way traffic, the hosts had their keeper to thank for keeping them in the game with two outstanding saves in the space of ten minutes. Firstly from a snap shot from Malik Buari from just ten yards out, and secondly from Daniel Bennett whose curling effort was saved at full stretch. These two efforts sandwiched another squandered chance, when a mazy run by Todd ended with a misplaced pass to Buari, which denied him a simple tap in. There was still time in the half for three further long-range efforts, one from Todd whose weak effort was comfortably collected, and one each from Martin Jackson and Andrew Weir whose long-range efforts flew over the bar, Weir`s thanks to a fine fingertip save.

Despite this pressure it could have been level at half time when only a poor finish allowed Mark Daniels to save when it seemed certain the forward would score.

It was anticipated that North Greenford would respond to this onslaught in the second half, and for ten minutes they certainly took the initiative forcing a number of corners, although Mark Daniels was rarely troubled in this time. That said there was a growing belief that a second goal was needed from us and the three chances that came our way were all missed when we should have done better.

Following a fantastic volleyed cross from Todd, Bennett was a fraction away from doubling our lead and shortly afterwards Buari should have scored, being denied twice following good approach play from Bennett. Probably the most frustrating missed opportunity was when Daniel Bennett chose to ignore a better placed player in Todd, in favour of a solo attempt which came to nothing. North Greenford seemed to be lifted by our inability to score, and entered the final stages of the match with more purpose and although we dealt with everything comfortably there was a sense of inevitability that something would give.

As the game entered stoppage time and to be fair with us still looking comfortable, a series of crosses that we were dealing with without a problem saw Matt Holley injured under a heavy challenge only for the referee to allow play to continue. Despite clearing another two crosses, the third saw a glancing header find the corner of our net and the three points snatched away from us without the game restarting.

To be disappointed at an away draw at the league leaders shows that we are able to compete at the top and is encouraging as we enter the final phase of the season.