The Cobblers comeback undone by late equaliser.
Last night Street were held 3-3 against league leaders and unbeaten Buckland Athletic in a pulsating match at match the Tannery ground. The Cobblers were looking to improve on recent results and will feel aggrieved that they didn't come away with all 3 points after a sparkling attacking display.
After a bright opening 8 minutes by the Cobbler where they looked sharp and created a few half chances it was Buckland who took the lead through Charlie Johansen who sneaked through two defenders to tap in from 6 yards. This didn't effect Street as they continued to creat chances with Lewis Tasker sending a powerful freekick straight at the keeper and Craig Herrod shooting just wide from a tight angle. However on 22 minutes it was Buckland who doubled their lead when Lloyd Gardiner found space from the left and from 25 yards struck a spectacular lob which just lifted above the stricken Tom Punchard and nestled into the back of the net for 0-2.
The Cobblers response was almost immediate as Harry Foster won the ball on the right to feed Steve Murray down the channel who unselfishly crossed to David O'Hare to slide in from 8 yards, 1-2 game on! Street maintained they're rhythm and shape and more chances soon came, on 31 minutes O'Hare won the ball superbly in the centre of the park and laid a ball off to the left for Herrod to hit first time which had the Buckland keeper beaten but just flicked the top of the bar. Then came a rapid brace of goals from Murray, the well deserved equaliser on 38 minutes when a Lewis Tasker hard low cross from the left bounced off a defender into the path of Murray who made no mistake from 5 yards. With their tails up it was only a minute later when Murray picked up the ball from 25 yards, turned and hit a quick shot which left the Buckland keeper planted to give the Cobblers a half time 3-2 lead.
The second half was hard to live up to the first but further chances were created which the Cobblers were left to rue. 53 minutes saw Herrod played through only for shot to miss the far corner, on 65 minutes Buckland threatened from a free kick from the left which fizzed pasted the far post. The game then started to boil over with several late tackles and the occasional round of handbags but nothing the referee saw anything too untoward. Then in the last 10 minutes 2 golden chances were missed by the Cobblers and they were made to pay for it. The first came on 82 minutes when Josh Wadham tore down the right and whipped in cross to an unmarked Harry Foster who from 6 yards out was unfortunate to see the ball bounce and spoon off his shin to fly over the bar, then in the next minute O'Hare was played in by Herrod but couldn't find the target when well placed. Buckland spurred on by these misses then got an equaliser with 3 minutes to go when a simple ball down the middle wasn't cut out and Jared Lewington smashed home much to the delight of the travelling fans.
Next up for the firsts is another trip to Hallen on Saturday and then on Tuesday 5th September a home match against Wellington, the Reserves are at home on Saturday 2nd September in the Somerset Senior Cup against Burnham Utd with a
2.30pm kick off.
Up the cobblers!