Two late second-half penalties at the Bob Lucas Stadium decided the scoreline this afternoon as the two sides both took a point each as they fight to stay in the National League South.
Before the game we, alongside Enfield Town, lay eight and 12 points off safety respectively, meaning a loss was something neither of us could afford.
Though the two clubs are now an extra two points off 20th-place Welling United, courtesy of their 4-1 thrashing away to Weston-super-Mare, a loss for either team would have been far more damning for their season.
But make no mistake, this was still a game that showed room for improvement, as said by Warren Feeney, who was “disappointed” with the performance, which he described as “probably the worst…since [he’s] been here.”
For much of the match, the scoreline stayed goalless until five minutes of madness saw two red cards and a penalty awarded in “The Towners’” favour.
Enfield veteran Sam Youngs slotted home his 11th goal of the season from the spot with seven minutes of regular time remaining, a moment which looked to see the North London outfit as likely winners.
However, 30 seconds after the four awarded added minutes were played, newcomer Harrison Day won a foul inside the box.
Up stepped a much-loved midfielder of our own, Jake McCarthy, who struck his spot-kick past Rhys Forster to draw us level with the very last kick of the game.
As things stand we remain winless at home in the league, now 14 points away from safety.
However, our point today has put an end to our losing streak, a frustrating run of form which saw our previous four contests end in one-goal deficits.
GOALLESS FIRST HALF
Today’s line-up saw two changes from Tuesday’s loss at home to Maidstone United, Ben Greenwood replacing Day, and new signing Rio Davidson-Phipps, joining us this morning from Braintree Town, playing instead of the suspended Calvin Brooks.
Gavin MacPherson’s side had only managed four points, just one more than us, over their previous 10 league games; if either side were to get a result to boost their season, it would take a better one than our recent outcomes.
With much on the line, we both started like teams desperate for three points, as both defences were tasked with clearing dangerous crosses inside the opening few minutes.
Lennon Peake then dragged wide for the visitors after 12 minutes, his miss of the target perhaps being a staple of the match’s gameplay so far – threat but a lack of genuine clear-cut chances.
Although his side’s next sight at goal did test Busey, as Billy Leonard fed an accurate pass in-between the lines to ex-Cardiff City defender Xavier Benjamin, whose placed shot towards the near-post was gathered by our shot-stopper.
From then on the visitors would have the lion’s share of possession and chances, the next seeing our new man Rio having to clear off the line just three minutes later.
With our close call behind us, we would have more defending to do with just over 10 minutes to go when early substitute Joe Payne struck at goal on the volley, before the ball bobbled behind following a double-deflection that kept the game goalless.
But with half-time just five minutes away, our players had the opportunity to take the lead through Leo Hamblin, who had the ball at his feet.
Our full-back, who fired an audacious attempt at goal on Tuesday night last week, tried something similar from approx. 25 yards out, the ball swerving slightly high and wide at just the wrong time.
Though, with MacPherson’s side still the stronger side, an inswinging ball of theirs came even closer to hitting the net on the final minute of stoppage time when the corner came in from the right-hand side and struck the crossbar.
The ball then bounced around in the box before Benjamin was judged to have fouled Leo, as we were let off with the break just around the corner.
A FEW MINUTES OF MADNESS
The second half began with our first change of the game, Jordan Maguire-Drew taking Mal Linton’s place.
But despite our attacking swap, the Towners almost caught us out only two minutes in when a deep cross from the right-hand side came flying towards the top-right corner, marginally staying out of the net thanks to Busey tipping over the bar.
Busey would be called into action again five minutes later, having to catch a ferocious shot by Leonard from just outside the box.
Though Enfield’s threat wouldn’t stop there; 18-year-old Amaru Kaunda toyed with Corey Jordan before swinging in a powerful cross from the right-hand side.
The ball, however, appeared a little too powerful for Youngs as it bounced off his head from close-range and over the bar.
Once again we were let off, but surely our first chance in this half would come soon, right?
It did – two minutes later.
JMD slid through Ibrahim Meite down the left, giving our forward the opportunity to beat Benjamin one-on-one.
He was able to beat Benjamin, cutting inside, but his curling strike landed into the hands of Forster.
But then, as is often the end-to-end nature of this league, the Towners struck back three minutes after the hour-mark.
Leonard played the ball at pace down the right, before Busey bravely rushed out to collect.
Though if we came somewhat close to conceding, we would only have to wait two minutes for us to show that a Weymouth win was still up for grabs.
JMD, having already proven impactful since coming off the bench, threatened the opposition this time with a shot, his long-range curler taking a stretching save from Forster to keep the scoreline level.
After our latest chance, the game then appeared to briefly peter out.
Until the 74th minute.
Rio fired in a cross that was parried out by Forster, but only to the feet of Jordon Thompson.
Though our centre-back, with several bodies in front of him, could only blast the ball over the bar.
Now, with just over 10 minutes of regular time, one may be forgiven in believing that they had witnessed the most exciting part of the game.
But unbeknownst to the crowd, the moments that would shape this game were just beginning.
The minutes of madness began in no.78, when, without warning, Benjamin lost his temper and threw Goody to the floor.
Unsurprisingly, referee Matthew Jackson sent him off, but not without struggling to control himself, grappling Bear’s shirt in the process.
With Benjamin now off the field, we had an extra player in our favour.
Momentarily.
Bear, just two minutes later, was tasked with winning the ball back from substitute Tarelle Whittaker, who was driving with the ball towards goal.
But our skipper, already on a yellow card, was judged by Jackson to have tugged on Whittaker’s shirt too hard, as he was handed a second booking and given his marching orders.
In a game already full of energy, all it took was two minutes for both teams to be shown a red card.
But in the meantime, Enfield had a free-kick with the potential to be dangerous.
Unfortunately for us, it was.
Although we were able to head away Mickey Parcell’s initial ball, the subsequent shot hit Ibrahim’s hands inside the box.
Penalty-kick to Enfield with seven minutes remaining.
Up stepped veteran Youngs, with the chance to give his side the lead.
His spot-kick met the hands of Busey, but ultimately too powerful to keep out as the Towners took a 1-0 lead late in the second half.
Though we had our chances in the second half, we were now staring down the all-too-familiar barrel of another one-goal deficit.
But as the game reached its fourth and final minute of stoppage time, there were a few more seconds for one final twist of the tale.
Substitute Harrison Day valiantly chased for the ball by the left byline and won the ball back, before appearing to be pushed down close to Forster’s goal.
With all eyes on the incident, Jackson pointed to the spot, handing us a lifeline and potentially breaking Enfield hearts.
Up stepped Jake for us, so often the hero for us in the past.
Crucially, he didn’t disappoint, coolly slotting the ball into the top-left corner to draw us level right at the death.
At this point it would have been unsurprising for another final plot-twist.
But, as time was finally over, Jackson blew the whistle as both sides picked up a point.
