Wellingborough Town 2
Holbeach United 2
Another red card proved costly for Holbeach United on Tuesday night as they drew 2-2 at Wellingborough Town.
The Tigers looked set for another Uhlsport UCL Premier Division win when Alex Lowery put a Josh Ford cross into his own net (18) and Jordan Elston rifled home a superb second (45) to put them 2-0 up at the Dog and Duck.
However, key defender Luke Wilson was sent off just before the break for two yellow cards – much like Ford was in Saturday’s win over Loughborough University (see page 29).
It took just 11 minutes for the Doughboys to wipe out Holbeach’s advantage, with Ryan Dove (47) and Dylan Wilson (56) both bagging for the hosts to make it 2-2.
It was backs to the wall for the Tigers after that, but they held firm to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
Boss Phil Barnes said: “It’s a funny one; it’s hard to be pleased with a draw after being 2-0 up at half time. But then at 2-2 after 56 minutes with ten men, you have to be happy with a draw.
“I do feel a little aggrieved. I don’t like to talk about referees, but I thought he was poor on the night.
“I’m not ever so sure Luke deserved to be sent off, the first yellow in particular was hard to understand.
“They gifted us the first goal, then Jordan scored an absolute screamer for the second.
“They came out and got two goals very quickly, but I thought we contained them well in the end and deserved our point.”
Next up for the Tigers is a very tricky looking trip to second-placed Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday (3pm).
Meanwhile, Holbeach have been handed a boost by the news that last season’s cancelled UCL KO Cup final against Rothwell Corinthians will now be played at Blackstones FC on Wednesday, November 4 (7.30pm).
Tigers: Drury, Wilson, T Smith, Millinson, Nicholson (Braithwaite 46), Tinkler, Elston, A Jackson (Balding 75), Ford (Clarke 88), Barnes, Frew.
