After last week’s loss to Bracknell Town, Holyport faced the tough ask of an away trip to second placed and unbeaten in their last ten games - Shortwood Town.
Holyport started the better of the two sides and seemed unlucky to have a Jamie Handscomb header disallowed for offside after six minutes. Shortwood were always comfortable on the ball and with Holyport pressing them to go long it seemed this plan was working to Holyport’s advantage, as their opening play kept breaking down.
Shortwoods first chance of the game was on thirteen minutes as a deep cross was headed wide by the Shortwood forward. Shortwood then built from this and had a sustained period in front of Holyports box. From a Port clearance Shortwood slid a through ball past the Port back four. With Carter in Ports goal beaten the post came to Holyports rescue.
With the game finely balanced neither side were creating any clear cut chances. Holyport came close in the twenty eight minute as a great move saw Shortwoods defender having to make a diving header, this hit the side netting.
Shortwood responded and a cross went straight across Holyports box and evaded everyone, this was the story eight minutes later as Shortwood worked a short corner and crossed across goal again.
Half time came with 0-0 a fair reflection of the half.
The second half started with both sides struggling to create any clear cut chances as the defences stayed on top. Holyports best chance of the game came in the sixty fourth minute. Handscomb released Rapley who cut back for Driver. Driver was eight yards out and struck his shot well but unfortunately it went wide with the keeper well beaten.
Two minutes later and Shortwood had another cross which evaded everyone when a simple tap in was there to take the lead for Shortwood. Shortwood finally opened the scoring in the seventy seven minute, a long free kick was flicked on and set the Shortwood forward through. With only Carter to beat he tucked his effort in to the bottom left corner.
In the eighty third minute Carter was called into action again. A cross field ball was flicked inside by the Shortwood forward and he unleashed a shot that Carter done well to palm away.
With ninety two minutes on the clock Lee Jerrum managed to skip past three defenders and cut back for Jamie Handscomb. Handscomb fired home to give Holyport a much deserved point and make the journey home a lot sweeter.
