Hellenic League Division One West

Shortwood Utd Development 2

Letcombe 2

By Harry Ash

SHORTWOOD boss Nick Ackland insisted he was "relatively pleased with a point".

“I’m disappointed,", reflected Ackland. “We were 1-0 up, but gave the ball away twice in poor areas. Our work rate was good, but we weren’t clinical enough. They weren’t a bad side, but we had the quality to win this game. Having said that, I’m relatively pleased with a point.”

Shortwood Development took the lead with six minutes played; Peyton found Leonard on the edge of the box, who ran unopposed into the penalty area, before rounding McCready and pulling back to Blackah, who tapped in to the open net.

Two minutes later, Freeman played a dreadfully under hit back pass towards Pederick, but Munger could only hit the post from a tight angle having nipped in to intercept.

With 16 minutes played, Munger equalised from the edge of the area after Shortwood lost possession in a dangerous position.

Half way through the first period, Letcombe scored their second with another well hit shot, this time from Benham; again Shortwood lost the ball in a bad area, and Benham accelerated into space before unleashing from 25 yards.

Wood ‘keeper Pederick could only watch the ball whistle into the far corner.

Leonard scored the equaliser for Shortwood with two minutes of the half remaining. He was found by Freeman, and, making a similar run to the one he made for the first goal, he slid the ball beneath the onrushing McCready.

It’s fair to say that the second half took a while to get going, but a late flurry of activity saw both teams, now tiring, looking for a winner.

With 15 minutes remaining, Letcombe’s Fragata was booked for diving inside the 18 yard box, and Shortwood were perhaps lucky to avoid conceding a penalty. A minute later, Shortwood had the ball in the net, but Peyton was adjudged to have strayed into an offside position before stroking the ball home.

Apperley headed against the bar from six yards after 82 minutes, having been found by a Fogg cross.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Prictor misplaced a pass across his own box, presenting Benham with a chance, but he shot straight at Pederick from close range. A minute later, Blackah fired just wide after a run and cut-back from Singh down the right-hand side.