Town travelled to Galleywood for a vital league game. Upon arrival Town were greeted by a sticky heavy pitch that was going to need a battling rather than footballing performance to go home with anything.

Town kicked up the slope first half and started well and had slightly the better of the possession but were constantly denied by the heavy pitch - Nicky and Brez in the middle of the park who both like to run with the ball found it difficult to play their natural game. Wiggy who had started brightly made an early exit when he succumbed to an old ligament problem and was replaced by young Brad Merrick. Town took the lead when Lee Humphrey played a superb through ball to Polley lurking on the defenders shoulder - his first touch was sublime and he then jinked inside a defender before side footing home from 12 yards out for a supremely well taken goal 1-0. Unfortunately Towns lead only lasted 2 minutes before Galleywood scrambled an equaliser 1-1. Nothing much happened for the reminder of the half and Town went into the break happy with their first half performance and looking forward to kicking down the slope in second half.

The second half started and it was an even affair with possession even and chances at a premium both ends. 15 minutes into the half and Town took the lead - Polley managed to shake off his markers and headed goalwards before being hauled down for just about the most obvious penalty you will ever see - he dusted himself down and converted the penalty himself despite a heroic effort by the Galleywood keeper to save it 2-1. Galleywood then had a player sent off for a horrific two footed lunge that Brad Merrick did well to come away from without serious injury. As so often happens in these situations being reduced to 10 men inspired Galleywood and Town seemed to take their foot off the pedal. The result of this was that the Town goal came under incessant pressure for the remaining 20 minutes of the game during which time Mark Neal, Lodgey and Jeater defended like lions and Jeater made one miraculous clearance off the line with an acrobatic over head kick (I thought it was Lodgey but it was definitly Jeater). Davey Armstrong came off the bench for his debut and replaced Brez who's pipe cleaner legs could take no more of the heavy pitch: he made an instant impact by forcing the Galleywood keeper into a smart save from a fiercely struck right foot shot - the rebound frustratingly was just out of Polleys reach on the "follow up". It looked like Town would hold out but with barely a minute left of normal time Galleywood equalised with a shot from the edge of the box that Chris Neal would have saved with his eyes shut but it took a wicked deflection giving him no chance. -2-2. The final whistle went a couple of minutes later with honours even.

Town had the better of the first half; the second half was fairly even for 25 minutes and Galleywood dominated the final 20 so on reflection Town might consider themselves slightly unlucky not to come away with all 3 points but Galleywood probally deserve a point for the non stop pressure they put on Town for the last 20 minutes after being reduced to 10 men. Town need to learn that the best way to take pressure off is to keep the ball especially when you have a numerical advantage.

Man of the match this week is Graham Jeater who was outstanding.

El Col