Right now, I'm not sure if this was a point gained or 2 dropped, given the topsy-turvy nature of the end to the game. The first half was pretty even I thought, with both sides having a couple of half-chances but nothing more. Although we may just have edged it with the control of the game, we hadn’t done enough to be in front.

With a delayed start, we were aware at the break that the teams around us were losing and mentioned it to try to get a reaction. It felt as if we were hoping for something to happen and stuck in second gear and that was a source of frustration. Selsey were well organised and energetic, and they were there to be beaten if we could reproduce the form shown in recent games.

With half an hour remaining and having taken almost complete control of the game, creating a few good chances either denied by Selseys resolute defending or the woodwork we were caught with a sucker punch. An aimless ball forward that we retrieved was played back to Sang, who failed to clear with any real distance, and was helped back in behind our back line for their forward to finish very well.

The reaction was good, but to no avail, and with 6 minutes to go, it felt like this was a missed opportunity. Tobe Uzor then scored a fantastic equaliser, and the initiative was very much with us. With just under 2 minutes left, according to the referee, when asked at a break in play, the game restarted, and some minutes or so later we were in front when John Fouracre, who had come off the bench, finished well from a tight angle. The restart then happened with the referee announcing that there was a minute to play, which came and went, and we were left wondering quite why we were still going. Having had several opportunities to properly clear the ball, which I think became relevant to the referee, we were punished when another half clearance was put back into our box and finished well to deny us with the last kick.

A polite enquiry as to why we had continued to play beyond the minute was explained away as not being able to end the game whilst the ball was in the attacking third, which you do see at all levels quite often, but it’s a strange interpretation followed presumably to avoid the angst of the attacking side with no thought in that instance for the team defending who think they’ve done enough. I suppose it was a good point, but it could have been a very valuable 3 if we had done a little better in those last few moments.

Gaffer Glynn Stephens
First Team manager