Steyning Town 1 Pagham FC 1
Steyning played their first home game of the league season at home against Pagham FC and a late spectacular strike from Harry Heath snatched a point after an early goal from the visitors had put them in front
On a rather misty night and cool at the Shooting Field after a stifling hot day,Town made two changes to the starting eleven from Saturday as Hoarty as the retuning Daniels-Yeomans started, replacing Freeman and the absent Blencowe.
Town were rather slowly out of the traps and fell behind on the 12th minute as a suspiciously offside looking Jefkins finished with a neat lob.
The goal sparked a bit of life into the Barrowmen and they were starting to enjoy significant amounts of possession. However, as was to be theme for much of the night they struggled to create clear cut chances against a well organised side.
The best chances in the first period were a shot that deflected off the post and an overhead kick from the hard working Benn that was well saved.
At the other end the visitors were happy to play on the counter and were getting some success down the left flank, with one attack leaving the defence stretched and Bromage stranded and a deflected shot looped and dropped agonisingly the wrong side of the post.
This would have left Steyning with a mountain to climb, however they went in at the break just the one goal behind and full of optimism that they could turn this around.
Town came out for the second half with the slight breeze at their backs and spent pretty much the entire period camped in the oppositions half.
Again the Lions were proving tough to break down and Steyning struggling to test ex Town stopper Conor Kelly in the Pagham goal.
Another effort from Heath came back off the post and a succession of long throws and corners were dealt with well by the Lions defence. Benn had a well taken goal disallowed for a tight offside call.
The introduction of King, Freeman & Berry off the bench bought a bit more urgency and Town looked increasingly dangerous as the half wore on.
The visitors, to be fair, were doing a great job of time wasting and going down at every opportunity and it seemed they were going to holdout for a hard earned and stubborn win.
However deep in to injury time Kelly claimed a cross and made a poor decision to throw out and start a counter down the left. This was cut out by a great tackle from Daniels-Yeomans. The ball found its way to Heath right out on Towns right flank. He launched a long cross come shot which sailed over Kelly in to the top corner. Wow. 1-1.
Seconds later Town came forward trying to sneak an unlikely win and Benn took down a high ball with an exquisite touch which took him clear of the two central defenders but his snap shot was straight at Kelly.
That was the last action of the night as both sides went home with a point.
Next up is a big FA Cup tie on Saturday at home to Isthmian league Hendon. KO 3pm.
Town: M. Bromage Hoarty T.Bromage Honore Docherty Daniels-Yeomans Plummer Heath Benn Jarvis Bridgman
Subs used : Freeman King Berry Not used: Oladokun Kaslauskas
MotM after a glorious injury time winner – Harry Heath!
