The points were shared between Southend Manor and Sawbridgeworth Town in a bottom of the table clash in the Essex Senior League after Jordan Chambers early second half penalty was cancelled out by Jake Skeets brilliant volley.
The hosts went into the contest nine points and two places above bottom side Sawbo knowing a win would potentially take them above Enfield into fourth bottom and put further daylight between them and their opponents, whilst the visitors knew three points could take them just three behind Clapton and closer to the teams above.
So, an important game indeed and with Enfield and Clapton also meeting in Bishop’s Stortford it was a big day for the bottom four sides, although Manor’s form heading into this wasn’t great having lost nine of their eleven games since the beginning of October, whilst Sawbo had won their first game of the season two weekends after loosing eleven straight, although a 5-0 reverse at Hoddesdon Town brought them back down to earth with a bump last weekend before leading Ilford 2-0 in midweek before the light went out meaning the game was abandoned.
Form was probably with the visitors but it was Manor who created the first chance but Chambers could only head over a cross from the right, and the hosts continued to have the better start as they saw a cross tipped away by keeper Clarke, the hosts broke the offside trap but Chambers could only blaze over.
Manor then got in again down the right but after the ball was cutback into the box, a first time effort was saved by Clarke, whilst down the other end the visitors saw Harry Bushell fire wide in what was their first attempt on goal in the game.
Manor though were carving out the best chances and they pounced on a defensive error to fire another effort at goal which Clarke saved, before the follow up effort was put wide of the goal, it was a head in hands moment for the hosts.
As the game went past the half hour mark though Sawbo began to get more of the ball and so nearly went in front after Myles Passley thumped a powerful effort against the post, and then after a long range effort had bounced up and hit keeper Harrison in the face, Bushell looked certain to chip home the rebound but instead lofted the rebound over the hosts bar.
Manor ended the half with more chances though, firstly forcing a brilliant save from Clarke before another effort from range curled into the side netting with Clarke routed to the spot, but it meant the opening forty five minutes ended goalless with the visitors probably the happier after their opponents had created the majority of the chances in the half. Oh, and half time between Enfield and Clapton was also 0-0, so it was as you were at the bottom.
Half Time Southend Manor 0 Sawbridgeworth Town 0
Manor had the chance to take an early second half lead as after Chambers was brought down inside the box, the referee pointed to the spot, and Chambers picked himself up to smash home but was ordered to retake the kick after an encroachment.
Chambers though kept his composure to slot home the retaken penalty, and Manor had an early second half advantage.
Sawbo looked to respond and saw a long range effort go straight at Harrison, but just before the hour mark they found an equaliser and how, and the ball sat up nicely for full back Skeets who volleyed an unstoppable volley from miles out over Harrison and into the back of the net, it was a super strike and the visitors were now back on level terms.
The Robins now fancied another and fired just wide of the post, whilst down the other end Manor almost got onto a loose through ball, but keeper Clarke managed to come to the edge of his area to just about thwart the danger.
Passley managed to get in down the left for the visitors after a good advantage had been played but fired straight at Harrison, and the visitors, who were much better in this half, forced another good save from Harrison before just getting to the loose ball before Bushell could gobble up the rebound, but Sawbo were looking the likelier to find a second at this point.
Manor then went down the other end and fired a decent effort inches wide of the far post from outside the box, before Sawbo then fired over from distance, as both teams were looking for what would probably be a big winning goal.
Manor should have found that winner too but missed another guilt edged chance as after a long-range effort had deflected into the path of the hosts, they could only fire across goal and wide, it was another heads in hands moment for the home side.
Deep into stoppage time the visitors side footed straight at Harrison as they had the chance to win it late on but both sides had to settle for a point a piece in what was a good honest battle, meaning they remained in the same situation as they found themselves in after Enfield and Clapton also ended with a point a piece after a poor 0-0 draw.
Full Time Southend Manor 1 Sawbridgeworth Town 1
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