The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Holbeach Utd 1-1 AFC Rushden and Diamonds: It’s as you were in the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division title race after a draw between the top two on Saturday.
A goal by Russ Dunkley in second-half added time rescued a point for league leaders Diamonds.
However, with four matches in hand and eight points adrift, Holbeach will be the happier when the dust settles.
The Tigers might feel that the late equaliser was a bitter pill to swallow, but just seven days previously it was they who were thankful for stoppage time to grab an unlikely leveller and keep them in the FA Vase.
Saturday’s match was not the anticipated cracker, not even a spectacle. Yet it was tense stuff before comfortably the largest crowd of the season at Carter’s Park – the 490 swelled considerably by Diamonds fans.
Jamie Clarke fired the Tigers ahead on 22 minutes, sweeping up after his header from four yards had been parried back into his path by Diamonds keeper Matt Finlay. Lee Beeson had picked out Clarke with a searching cross from the right.
Diamonds’ new signing Tommy Berwick was proving a handful on his debut and had one or two sights of goal, but the leaders were far from impressive in the first half.
Manager Andy Peaks obviously fired them up at half-time as they then posed much more of a threat.
That said, they came up against Kern Miller in imperious form at the heart of the Tigers’ defence alongside Ben Brown, who had replaced injured skipper Danny Spencer in the first half.
Many home fans thought it was 2-0 late on when Lee Dube bundled the ball home from close in with just a few minutes left, but an offside flag eventually cut short the extended celebrations.
And Diamonds took advantage of that let-off to fashion a 91st-minute equaliser. Sub Jason Turner flicked on a high ball and Dunkley lifted the ball over Holbeach keeper Conroy from the edge of the box.
Tigers co-manager Graham Drury felt it was the first time his defence had been caught square.
A niggly second half had provided plenty more added time – enough for Diamonds midfielder Adam Confue to pick up a second yellow card and be sent off, but the drama ended there.
Tigers co-boss John Chand tweeted: “Another point on the board and move on. Very happy with the lads and thought we were top drawer!”
Holbeach had feared slipping 11 points behind their quarry, but were just minutes away from closing the gap to five.
This title race has plenty more in it – and it would be foolish to discount the contributions of Yaxley and Wisbech Town in third and fourth place respectively.
