FOOTBALL: Cricklade battle back to draw at Carterton (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cricklade pressure finally rewarded at Carterton

11:22am Monday 10th September 2012 in Sport

Uhlsport Hellenic Div 1 West.

Cricklade Town 2 Carterton 2.

CRICKLADE TOWN rallied well to come from two goals down to force a deserved draw with Carterton.

The visitors started the stronger with their quick, direct game, but the Cricklade defence restricted their chances.

On 24 minutes, the opening goal came when a Redford cross was nodded in by the unmarked Norridge.

The goal woke up Cricklade and they began to enjoy most of the possession. The closest Cricklade came, however, was when Thomas’s cross shot was saved well by Mike Hedges and Sanghera headed the rebound wide.

In the second half, Cricklade continued to control the game, but could not carve out any opportunities, and on 58 minutes they were made to pay as Carterton broke down the right and after Brown and Davies collided, a Duerden cross ran free to Morton, who tapped the ball into the empty net.

Hedges continued to have a good game for Carterton, twice tipping long-range efforts from Thomas around the post and he was finally beaten from one of the resulting corners.

O’Bree played the ball short to Povey, who bent a fine shot into the corner and it should have been all square a minute later as Sanghera’s shot on the turn from six yards went the wrong side of the post.

On 80 minutes, Cricklade did get a deserved equaliser, as Povey found O’Bree, whose great cross provided Theil with a simple tap-in.

Cricklade could then have completed a turnaround but O’Bree’s shot came back off the underside of the bar and then in stoppage time, Theil sliced wide in front of an empty net.