3 changes to the starting line as Henry Hayden and Robbie Woodward returned, and a debut was given to Justin Gregory replacing injured Lee Knight and the absent Jonny Taylor and Ben Ward.
Jarvis Brook went one up inside 5 mins as Ollie Ireland pulled off the shoulder of the defender to get his header in despite the efforts of Dan Banks to keep the ball out. Pretty good chances fell to Jamie Rowland, Kris Harding and Harry Smith but Brook had their tails up and were proving our toughest opponents faced this season. Beeding were to lose the in form Arran Tewsley to a dead leg at half time, Harrison Mitchell came on and proved a capable replacement in showing his versatility.
Playing down the slope, Beeding kept the pace up but Brook were also looking dangerous in an absorbing end to end battle. A sin bin each added to entertainment as both teams tried to make the man advantage count.
In the end, it took an absolute screamer off the far post from 20 yards by Henry Hayden to get us back in the game with 20 mins to go. A clever move saw Rowland crossing from the right, a clever step over from Smith and Hayden was in the right place to slide home from 6 yards. 1-2 to Beeding, a possible 3 points on our longest away trip ? No. Brook came back at us, Jake Bloomfield earning a penalty, that he got up to make no mistake from the spot.
And so it ended 2-2. Frustration at giving up the lead and a potential 3 points should be tempered with the fact it was a cracking, entertaining game between 2 decent sides that remain unbeaten having made good starts to the season. If we were a little short of the free flowing play of the last few weeks that was in no small measure due to the quality and energy of our opponents.
Lots of 7 out of 10 performances from all the lads, 2 goal hero Henry Hayden deservedly MOM, including a screamer he will do better to beat if he plays until he’s a 100! Great stuff Henry.
Elsewhere, Montpelier Villa were coming back from 2 nil down with 20 to go at home to Worthing Town to impressively win 4-2 to go 2 points clear at the top of the table and they are looking early title contenders. Wins for TD Shipley and Rustington keep them in the mix.
Next up for us, home to Littlehampton Utd. Going to need the same determination and intensity please guys, COYYs!
Line Up – Banks, Tewsley, Jamieson, Trower, Gregory, Hayden, Gunn, Woodward, Rowland, Smith, Harding. Subs used Mitchell, McGill
Scorers – Hayden 70, 80 mins. MOM Henry Hayden.
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