Leyton Pennant1

Banstead Athletic1

(Ryman League Division Two)TEN-MEN Pennant battled from behind to earn a valuable point against promotion rivals Banstead on Saturday.

The Lilywhites opened the proceedings well and almost scored from a corner in the first five minutes.

Exploiting the visitor's shaky defending down the flanks Pennant's next effort fell to Neil Tilley, who's snap shot just skimmed the crossbar.

Pennant then begun to allow Banstead to play in the middle of the field knowing that they could draw the attack and find space behind the visitor's defence.

The scheme seemed to have worked when Paul Tresadern shook off two defenders and ran into the penalty area, only to have his ankle tapped by Mark Leahy, but the ref waved away calls for a penalty.

Russell Ling in the home goal was having a quite game and on the one occasion when a corner eluded him Carlton Campbell was on hand to clear the danger.

But then on 34 minutes an innocuous looking cross from the right caused a mix up between Ling and Simon Tickner, which resulted in the defender heading the ball past the out rushing keeper to give Banstead the lead.

In the second half, the Lilywhites were determined to rescue the game, but their course wasn't helped on 60 minutes when Matt Waldron was harshly sent off for a tackle outside the penalty area.

Not dismayed, Jay Notley and Michael Milton were able to bring Carlton Campbell into the game and his pace down the left began to cause the Banstead defence problems.

And after a couple of close efforts the Lilywhites got their just deserts on 86 minutes.

A sweetly taken corner by Notley found Simon Tickner, who crashed home a powerful header to earn the Lilywhites a deserved point.