Never-say-die Town strike late in dramatic 3–3 draw

Saturday 17th January 

Bitton 3-3 Warminster Town

TheRed and Blacks made the trip to Britton to take on the promotion hopefulls. Manager Rob Nash made one change to last week’s starting line-up, Seb Hounsell came into the starting line up with Henry Mcferran missing out with an injury. 

Town started well and looked to have settled well into the game. George Walker Haynes and Reece Collyer tried their luck from distance but neither caused the home keeper any alarms but Bitton then came into the game and soon put Town under pressure.  

Bitton’s number nine was proving a handful causing the Town defence problems. A poor pass from Town led to the first goal; a dangerous pass was intercepted by the Bitton midfield who played into the striker, his initially effort was blocked but he made no mistake with the follow up. 1-0.  

Town were at sixes and sevens, poor passing and not dealing with the conditions as well as the home side and it wasn’t long before Bitton doubled their lead. A pass down the right saw the winger cut into the box; his shot across goal was well saved by Sam Jepson but the ball fell to the onrushing forward who tapped into an empty net. 2-0. 

Town needed to stay in the game as Bitton looked for a third. Town were forced into making two changes due to injury. Both Tyson Pollard and Max Whittaker picked up injuries and were replaced by Owen Bartley and Corey Gardner. Town seemed to settle and just before the break Jake Wright forced the home keeper into action forcing a fine save. HT 2-0. 

Unfotunately Corey Gardner picked up a knock, and the substitute had to be replaced by Ben Harris. Town knew the next goal was vital and if they were to get back in the game they had to score it. They were given a let off a minute into the half; Bitton wasted a good opportunity to make it three with the shot blazed wide.  

The game began to swing in Town’s favour as they started to dominate, Wright and Harris were causing the home defence problems and the Town midfield were in control. They eventually made the pressure pay when Jack Newman picked up a loose ball in the box, he slightly scuffed his shot but it was enough to find the back of the net.  

Town were now in the hunt for a leveller and chances were coming; Wright had a shot well saved; Newman saw an effort go wide and Harris somehow missed the ball with goal at his mercy. But with time running out that man Newman was in the right place to pick up the ball in the box take it round the keeper and level things up.  

But the drama didn’t stop there. As the game entered injury time, six minutes were to be played and virtually straight from the kick-off Bitton regained the lead with a well taken goal after Town failed to look after the ball. After working so hard to get back level it seemed that Town had given back the points to the home side but with two minutes to play they forced a corner. Collyer swung the ball in and Jordan Pinder was there to head home. 3-3!  

The game restarted and this time there was no more time for any more drama. FT 3-3. A good second half from the lads.