Toolstation Western League

Odd Down 2

Shortwood United 2

SHORTWOOD will wonder how they managed to drop points in this game after Joey Tustain was sent off, writes Jim Cunneen.

Wood held a two-goal lead, but were pegged back in the final 20 minutes and were forced to settle for a point.

Wood were in complete control for the great majority of the game and with a bit of luck could have been four of five goals to the good, but once again the result did not match the performance.

Odd Down’s first goal was questionable – the second unfortunate, but Wood should take enormous heart from the game even though they will not have felt like it at the time. Wood were bright from the start and their football was bright and fluid and as early as the 11th minute Marsh’s low cross caused havoc and Tryner had an effort blocked on the line.

Nowell then sent in a searching cross that was inches in front of the sliding Kalnins and Tryner sent a free-kick inches over the bar.

Home keeper Dorrington saved well from Mathews when the young striker was through and Kalnils’ follow up effort was kicked off the line and it was 40 minutes before Odd Down had their first real shot as Bishop curled a shot from 25 yards wide of the far post.

Marsh had a good chance two minutes after the break, but Wood would not be denied and scored after 49 minutes. Bainbridge got away down the flank and his excellent low cross was met by the oncoming Kalnins, who turned the ball home.

Wood lost Marsh with a dead leg shortly after and he was replaced by Walker and Tustain was shown a yellow card for a late challenge. This was to prove significant later.

Man-of-the-match Kalnins hit a shot inches wide and was then unlucky with a header before Wood rightly doubled their score on the hour. Dorrington blocked a Mathews effort with a foot and when the ball rebounded to Walker on the edge of the area his measured drive sailed into the top corner. Wood’s joy was unconfined.

With 69 minutes gone Odd Down forced a corner and when the ball reached the far post Dawley headed home. Wood protested that he had climbed over Hoskins to score, but their protests were ignored and Tustain carried his protest too far and was shown a second yellow.

Five minutes later Lloyd headed a cross goalwards and the ball squirmed through Clarke and trickled home. Clarke was distraught but it would be unfair to criticise the Wood keeper for a rare error when he has been magnificent all season. Hiroli then missed a sitter before Wood recovered and again finished the stronger, even with 10 men and a defensive error almost let Mathews in but he was blocked out as he was about to score.

So Wood remain without that elusive win but they came so close and surely it cannot be far away such was their excellence in this game and against Bridgwater last week.

Shortwood: Clarke, Bebbington, Nowell, Hoskins, Tryner, Tustain. Bainbridge (Gardner 75), Bowles, Mathews, Kalnins, Marsh (Walker 54)