Ashton & Backwell United and Sherborne Town held each other to a 2-2 draw at the Lancer Scott Stadium last Saturday.

On a cold murky December day, with the pitch looking in magnificent condition, the Zebras were much the fastest out 
of the blocks.

Within a minute George Mapletoft had crossed to Declan Cornish in the box, his shot was charged by Stags defence, then 
from a throw in, that same defence attempted to pass the ball around in their own box, with Alex Murphy easily latching 
onto the move to beat Lewis Coombes and snatch the ball to score an easy opener.

Murphy was a real handful, reading the Ashton & Backwell's own half passing well, putting on pressure and creating openings, in the 10th minute he outpaced Oscar Pearce, crossed to Mapletoft who supplied Anthony Herrin, his shot only stopped by bodies in the way.

When the Stags did manage to move forward it was far too error-strewn and lacking in purpose, then out of the blue, Shea Bennington-Mannings got the ball on the left of the box, scythed through the Zebras and shot past Josh Attwood for the equaliser. 

This goal did seem to give more direction to the home side, yet there were still a lot of heavy touches and poor decision-making; the Zebras were certainly better and 33minutes in were unlucky not to retake the lead, Herrin’s ball finding Sam Farthing, whose shot beat Coombes, but not the crossbar.

Yet the Stags went into the break ahead, a free-kick on the edge of the box was expertly steered around the wall and into the net by Joe Cattermole.

However, that  did not last long, as one minute after half-time and a first Zebras’ attack of the half led to Farthing lobbing Coombes, his despairing fingertips only helping the ball on its way to tie the scores.

That apart the half offered little beyond honest endeavour from both sides. On 63 minutes Coombes made two great saves from Murphy and Herrin in very quick succession

And in the 92nd  minutes the keeper had to be at his best to deny Cornish, whilst substitute Luke Newman’s great run down the left, beating the defence but shooting wide with fellow substitute Miles Hardidge available. 

This was the best for the Stags, who seemed somewhat bereft of ideas as the game wore on, finishing with four centre backs on the pitch, whilst the Zebras perhaps did too much too early and ran out of steam; a point each probably a fair result. 

Next match is a much sterner test, against high flying Bridgwater Town this Friday night at 7:30pm, under the 
Lancer Scott floodlights.