CALOR GAS SOUTHERN LEAGUE WEST

SHORTWOOD 1

FLEET 1

A LAST-GASP strike from James Baldwin earned Shortwood a share of the spoils at Meadowbank, writes Jim Cunneen.

Shortwood joint manager John Evans said: "Fleet were a good side and we had to work hard - it was an even game and we showed great spirit.

"We could have nicked it at the end. I thought Tom Warren was outstanding for us again."

Shortwood could have scored in the first minute when Matt Bennett's cross to the far post, but Sam Avery was unable to get enough on the ball to turn it in and Fleet responded when Stanley smacked a dipping shot against the foot of the post from 25 yards.

Russell made an acrobatic clearance to somehow turn a Bennett cross over his own bar with Ross Langworthy and Duncan Culley closing in and then Culley raced on to a long ball but his shot rebounded from the post with keeper Pryce well beaten.

Fleet enjoyed the better possession, but Shortwood continued to create the better chances and Avery went on a good run, but chose to shoot when a ball inside might have been a better option.

The pattern continued in the second half and twice Jack White shot wide for the visitors while Tim Haddock shot against the bar for the Wood.

Langworthy had a chipped effort cleared off the line and keeper Tom King had to race from his line to deny the speedy Miambo.

Even King wasn't fast enough after 69 minutes when Miambo again raced through and got to the ball just before the Wood keeper and fired past him into the bottom corner.

Wood pushed forward but suffered a blow when they lost Culley with an apparent dead leg with 15 minutes to go.

John Cant came on and almost immediately had an impact when Warren fired his pass just over the bar. Warren again was unlucky when his shot from outside the box beat Pryce only to hit the post for the third time.

Finally, with 88 minutes gone, Joe Parker sent over a perfect cross and Cant met the ball well with his head. Pryce made a great save but Baldwin reacted first to slam home the rebound.

There was still time for Parker to fizz shot inches wide, but a defeat for either side in this game would have been harsh.

SHORTWOOD: King, Avery, Axton (Mace 82), Pritchett, Coates, Baldwin, Langworthy (Parker 64), Warren, Culley (Cant 77), Haddock, Bennett.

Subs not used: Brown, Sykes.