Leyton Pennant1

Berkhamsted Town1

(Ryman Div One)

PENNANT gained a precious point in their battle to avoid the drop in an excellent match against mid-table Berkhamsted Town on a mud bath of a pitch.

The visitors made by far the better start and could well have been three or four goals to the good had it not been for some excellent goalkeeping by Peter Goodman in the home goal.

Pennant's first chance came on 15 minutes when Craig Bristow's cross-cum-shot caused havoc in the Berko defence before defender Paul Aldridge steered the ball to safety.

Within a couple of minutes Goodman was called on to make what was the save of the match, when he denied John Richardson from close range.

Berko's John Pedder then saw Barnes head his goalbound effort off the line, before Goodman was once again doing well to keep out Simon Sweeney, to ensure it finished 0-0 at the break.

The home side started the second half looking much sharper and after Marshall went close on 58 minutes took the lead with a Jay Notley free kick from just outside the box.

Berkhamsted replied immediately, with Pedder collecting the ball to the left of the home penalty area, before ghosting to his right and sweetly slamming in a low shot to Goodman's left.

Ten minutes later Berko's Gary Sippetts could have sealed the points for the visitors but shot over the Pennant bar from ten yards.

Both sides spent the rest of the half in search of the winner, but in the end honours were equal in this enthralling game.

Speaking after the game Pennant boss Danny Honeyball said: "Peter Goodman was excellent between the sticks and kept us in it early on. I also thought Sid Nelson and Ian Barnes had good games, as did Jay Notley who ran the midfield for us.

"After taking the lead it was disappointing to concede a goal straight away, but at the end of the day a point is still good for us considering our position in the table."

PENNANT: Goodman, Peters, Warren, Honeyball, Barnes, Field, Bristow, Notley, Marshall, Shaw and Nelson. Subs: Cooper, Brown, Baffour, Baptiste and Stewart

January 30, 2003 10:30