I would have settled for this result without a ball being kicked, especially when knowing that two of our key players would be sitting out the game, but it is a sign of the strength we have in depth when the two players come in and put in a display against one of the better attacking sides in the League, and with 87 goals scored they are the League’s leading scorers.
We did ride our luck on a number of occasions and had Fareham had their shooting boots on we might well have lost this game. Both sides were affected by the biting cold wind and a hard unpredictable pitch- déjà vu?
The first half was goalless, but there was plenty of action at both ends. Our hosts had at least two good chances that they couldn’t convert and Dan made two or three fine stops. Scott made a couple of penetrating runs and was unlucky on 15 minutes to have a shot held by the keeper.
It was almost poetry in motion at the back as Ollie and Mezza snuffed out many of the dangerous moves. In fact the whole of the back four had a good game and it was difficult to pick out an individual for man of the match.
The second half saw us start strongly and on 48 Coolie rode a very strong challenge to get his cross in only for Strongy to fire his shot just over the bar from the edge of the area, but on 56 minutes we finally broke the deadlock. A Mezza long throw was headed on by Leo and Tim was unmarked at the back stick. He was able to bring the ball under control before slotting home under the keeper confidently.
Fareham grabbed an equaliser on 76 minutes when we failed to pick up Middleton at a corner and he was able to head home from around five yards out.
I also witnessed one of the shortest appearances of a player. Fareham made a substitution and within a couple of minutes he was off having elbowed Ollie in the side of the head- quite bizarre. That aside it was a competitive game anyway, and we were able to pick up a valuable point.