Football
Late goal salvages a point

Heath Hayes 2 Stratford Town 2

STRIKER Martin Thompson grabbed a last-gasp equaliser to earn Town a share of the Baker Joiner Midland Alliance spoils at Heath Hayes on Saturday.

Poor finishing, which has plagued Town all season, again looked to have proved costly until Thompson popped up with his late point saver.

Both sides struggled to come to terms with the heavy conditions in the opening exchanges but Town gradually took control and they conjured up the first opportunity in the tenth minute.

Liam Reynolds released Michael Hayden and he delivered an inviting cross which the diminutive Chris Murphy headed well wide of the target.

Town continued to dominate proceedings with Ricky Baker’s free kick being flicked on by Murphy to Hayden but his header was saved by home keeper Tom McNulty who then did well to hold a powerful effort from Stuart Herlihy.

The visitors should have broken the deadlock after 23 minutes when Joe Wright found Thompson. His shot was blocked but the rebound fell kindly for Hayden who somehow blasted over the bar from close range.

The game developed into a scrappy midfield battle but Baker went close with a long range effort before Hayden cleverly set up Reynolds whose well struck shot was pushed away by McNulty.

Town remained on top after the interval with Thompson’s shot on the turn flashing just wide, while McNulty bravely saved at the feet of Murphy who attempted to latch onto a fine through ball from Wright.

The normally free-scoring Heath Hayes had not mustered a single shot on goal before taking the lead, totally against the run of play in the 51st minute.

David Waple was adjudged to have been brought down in the area by Danny Haynes and the referee pointed to the spot. Keeper Richard Morris kept out the resulting penalty from Joe McNulty and deserved better than watching the quick-thinking Craig Hancox pounce to fire home the rebound.

Town recovered from the setback and took just six minutes to get back on level terms through Murphy who confidently converted the resulting penalty after Hayden had been upended by Luke Jones.

Young substitute Jamie Molyneux, who caused the home defence plenty of problems, had a fierce shot from the edge of the area saved at the second attempt, while Herlihy headed Hayden’s corner inches wide.

Town squandered anothetr gilt-edged opportunity 20 minutes from time when McNulty failed to hold another powerful effort from Molyneux but Murphy fired the loose ball into the side netting.

It proved a costly miss as Heath Hayes regained the lead after 76 minutes when Waple superbly lobbed the stranded Morris.

Town kept plugging away and deep into stoppage time Molyneux flicked on a long ball forward from Hayden which fell to Thompson who fired home an equaliser from close range.

Town, who remain 13th in the table, entertain Bridgnorth Town at the DCS Stadium this Saturday (3pm) before visiting neighbours Studley for a Polymac Services League Cup quarter-final clash on Tuesday (7.45pm).