Miguel De Souza - scored the equaliser for the Saints
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City manager Steve Castle called for greater committment from his players
following 3 successive defeats and they responded with a performance of grit and determination to earn a well-deserved point on the club's first ever visit to Westleigh Park.
With Gary Crawshaw injured and Daniel McBreen still awaiting international
clearance, Castle selected Miguel De Souza to partner Lee Clarke up front
and restored Adam Parker, who had his best game of the season today, to his
preferred midfield role. Ben Walshe, a wide left-sided player signed from
Queens Park Rangers the day before, started on the bench but was given an
early opportunity to show his pedigree following an injury to Scott Cousins
within the first 15 minutes.
The Hawks, led by former Wimbledon star Dean Holdsworth, have had a steady start to the season, but after a bright start to this match, fell away in the second half as the young City centre backs, Ben Martin and Chris Seeby came to terms with the lively home attack.
City came close to a dream start when, after just two minutes, a slick move
involving Cousins and Parker released De Souza who hit a fierce, curling
shot from 20 yards which was tipped around the post at full stretch by
Gareth Howells, a former Saints' keeper with over 200 appearances between the sticks at Clarence Park.
On seven minutes, Clarke was inches away with a diving header from a Gary
Wraight free-kick, but a minute later, the home side took the lead. The
veteran Geoff Pitcher beat his defender for probably the only time in the game wide on the left and sent in an inch-perfect cross to be met by
Holdsworth with a glancing header which gave Mel Capleton, who had an
excellent game today, no chance.
Two minutes later, City were level when, after a nasty foul on Cousins, who was forced to leave the field, another Wraight free-kick was sent high into the home box and De Souza clipped a header high to the left of Howells from 10 yards.
After the lively opening, the game settled and goal-mouth action was rare. Both defences seemed to be in control and much of the football was played in the middle third of the pitch. Martin volleyed high from another Wraight free-kick and at the visitors end, Jason Chewins was unable to test Capleton with a snap-shot from the edge of the area.
In the second half, both sides struggled to come terms with a rather fussy referee and three City players in succession were booked for dissent.
Castle's frustration boiled over and he was despatched from the dug-out by
the Official.
City created more of the very few openings during the second period. Midway through the half, Dean Hooper found Parker wide on the right, who found space to clip a pass to Clarke but the Northern Ireland U21 striker volleyed straight at the substitute 'keeper, Andy Poyser.
10 minutes from time, Clarke had a double chance to secure all 3 points when he was put through, again by Parker but his firm shot was blocked by Poyser and his second attempt on the rebound hit the foot of the post before being safely gathered.
Report by Tom Lewis |