Bottesford once again come back from a 2 goal deficit to gain a share of the points against Hall Road Rangers at Dene Park knowing that 3 points ‘were on the cards’.
On a pitch that was not conducive for passing football, once again they were faced with having to deal with the long ball game and adjust accordingly. The home side started the brighter of the 2 teams winning 2 corner kicks in the opening minutes. In the 5th minute it looked as though Craig Adams might open the account for the home team when he broke through the Bottesford defence but he put his final effort wide of the target.
Bottesford responded with Craig Bridge sending 2 attempts over the bar before Hall Road took advantage from a defensive clearance and following good work from Adam Foster, he provided Leighton Matthewson with the simplest of tap-ins from close range to open the scoring in the 12th minute.
Bottesford responded with Chris Garth linking up well with Tom Grant and Nathan Smith putting his final attempt over the bar!! They followed up in the 16th minute with Bridge linking up well with Garth who saw his attempt hit the woodwork. With Bottesford pushing hard for the equaliser, Smith should have done better with his opportunity but the ball was blocked and from the rebound, Chris Mcdonald saw his attempt finish wide of the target.
The home side always looking to catch Bottesford out on the break, were nearly caught out when Chris Adams found himself well placed to test keeper Ash Ellis but he wasted his opportunity by putting the ball wide. He made amends in the 40th minute when he beat the defensive line-up to score the 2nd goal.
Just before half-time, it looked as though the visitor’s might reduce the deficit when an effort from Paul Morrall was blocked only as far as Garth but he put his shot frustratingly over the bar.
The introduction of Danny Boulton at the break almost paid dividends when he made 2 attempts at goal in the opening minutes followed by an effort from Bridge that was scrambled off the goal line.
Apart from another break involving Rangers Chris Adams, the majority of play featured in the home teams penalty area, with Boulton and Bridge creating difficulties for the home defence. The actual break through eventually materialised in the 70th minute, Craig Bridge meeting a cross from Smith with a fine header finding the back of the net.
Bottesford did not have to wait long for the next goal when in the 76th minute, Chris Mcdonald picked his spot to beat keeper Ryan Ramsden for the equaliser.
The home side looked as though they might grab the winner when a defensive slip up allowed Adam Foster to get into a one to one situation with keeper Ellis but once again the keeper came out on top. With the game entering the final minutes, good play from Terry Barwick almost provided the winner for the visitor’s but the final ball agonizingly ran across the by-line with nobody available for tap-in. Just before the final whistle in extra-time, a strong run from Danny Gibbons took the player beyond the defence but his final shot at goal was saved whereas a pass might have been more fruitful on this occasion..