O'S GRAB DRAW IN BLOWY ENCOUNTER

After a 10am pitch inspection declared the game on, it was a surprisingly good looking pitch that greeted the two teams considering the amount of rain in the area this week.

Oldland played with the strong wind in the first half and the elements played a part in their first opportunity. Josh Dempsey's huge free kick found Tom Morgan in the box but the striker's lob was cleared off the line by a retreating Sodbury defender.

Morgan and Josh Williams both had chances to open the scoring, Morgan playing a neat one two and seeing his effort blocked by home keeper Glenn Murley. At the other end, Dempsey blocked twice from the home attack and also caused havoc with two enormous goal kicks that Murley had to make saves from.

The half ended in controversy when O's midfielder Matt Curnock was caught in the face by an elbow from James Mackie but out of sight of the officals. Curnock was forced to come off at half time, replaced by Lewis Parker in a like for like switch.

Three minutes into the second half, Jack Parker found the side netting after having rounded Murley and sixty seconds later, Sodbury made them pay by taking the lead when Joe White volleyed past Dempsey from the edge of the box.

Sam Jenkins missed a golden chance to make it 2-0, side footing wide from a great position and Mackie also spurned an opportunity as Sodbury made better use of the wind. But all the time Oldland were only a goal behind, they were still in the game and gradually started to cope with the howling gale.

The leveller came on 86 minutes when some great work from Williams down the right produced a cross that Jack Parker lashed home. It was no more than Oldland had deserved against a side sitting atop of the table.

But as stoppage time ticked on, the match could have taken a turn towards the visitors with two incidents that went against the visitors. First, sub Paul Coles knocked the ball past keeper Murley but seemed to be brought down inside the box but no spot kick was given. Then, from an even later corner, Coles netted to make it 2-1 but the goal was ruled out for a push with no home defenders claiming a foul.

So all square at The Ridings in front of a crowd of 128, an impressive turnout for a clash between two of the top four sides in blustery conditions.