21/1/2008

Sport

Late Campbell strike rescues Fleet

Darren Campbell smashed home a late equaliser

AT the end of the season a point snatched from the jaws of defeat can be so crucial to a team’s title challenge.

So it may prove for Fleet Town, as Darren Campbell’s last minute goal snatched them a share of the spoils despite a disappointing display against in-form Marlow at Calthorpe Park.

Fleet had come from behind in each of their last two games to grab unlikely victories which have seen them reach the summit of the Southern One South & West division.

Although this latest comeback only stole a point for the home side it was their sheer determination to draw level, despite being far from their best, which shone through to the final whistle. All this against a Marlow side that top the form charts alongside Fleet themselves.

After the match boss Andy Sinton was pleased with his side’s spirit if not with the performance.

“I’m happy to get a point in the end,” he said. “But let’s face it, I think we have been poor today.

“I’m not one of these managers that praise the team just because we got a point, although we showed fantastic character to keep going and get a draw.

“I thought today we just huffed and puffed but we never worked their keeper enough. I don’t really think we did anything well, but with 15 minutes to go, of course I would have taken a point the way we were playing.

“We are top of the league on merit, so we have to get to grips with the fact that teams will lift their game when the play us, as Marlow did today.”

In fairness to the visitors, Marlow certainly played their part in what was for the most part a scrappy game.

They had won five out of their last six games, and but for a point blank save from Paul Smith, Fleet could have been dead and buried at 2-0 early in the second half.

Sinton was full of praise for the visitors. “Before the game we obviously were looking to get the win, but credit to Marlow because they played well,” he said.

“On current form they are the best side in the league along with us so I knew it was going to be a tough game.

“They have been beating teams by four, five and six in recent weeks so they were always going to carry an attacking threat, and they pushed us all the way.

“But I can’t fault the determination of the side. We have been behind in the last three games and managed to get two wins and a draw.

“We have a never-say-die attitude and I would put today down to a poor performance. We can put it behind us and the good thing is that we got something from the game.”

Sinton was forced to make changes for the game with Phil John suspended and Adam Wallace picking up a groin injury.

Mark Anderson got the nod up front after scoring in his last two games from the bench and James Field was restored to the starting line-up.

The game got off to a sloppy start as both sides battled to get control in the middle of the park, but it was the visitors who created the first real opening.

Jack Smilie whipped in a corner from the right and Marlow skipper Chris Elsegood should have done better as he headed straight at Paul Smith in the Fleet goal.

Marlow were looking dangerous on the break as the pace of in-form striker Jermaine Roche and winger Aaron Couch was causing problems.

It was a ball in from Roche that made the next chance, with Fleet captain Steve Noakes managing to turn the ball behind for a corner with Daniel Stone poised to strike.

Fleet finally tested Marlow keeper Kieran Drake after 25 minutes, when Nathan Smart lashed a brilliant dipping effort from out wide on the right that seemed to have Drake beaten. But the Marlow stopper somehow tipped the ball onto the bar and to safety.

With Anderson isolated up front, Campbell and Field struggling to make an impact and Roche and Couch troubling the back four, it was little surprise that Marlow took the lead on 37 minutes.

Paul Coyne’s cross was only partially cleared by Mark Paterson’s header, and as no-one closed down Craig Roberts the left-back smashed the ball on the bounce past Paul Smith’s despairing dive for the opening goal.

That was how it stayed through to half time, and after the break Fleet upped the tempo. But they still lacked the quality on the final ball really to trouble the Marlow defence, who were looking more and more dangerous when they broke at speed on the counter attack.

It was nearly game over after 56 minutes when Couch raced past Damien Smith and squared the ball to Stone. It seemed the striker just needed to get his effort on target, but with the goal gaping Paul Smith somehow got across to foil Stone’s effort.

Sinton admitted after the game that had that chance been put away he was unsure if he side could have clawed it back.

“Paul made a fantastic save to keep us in it,” he said. “I said to the guys on the bench that it could be the turning point in the game, because the way we were playing I don’t know if we could have come back from 2-0 down.”

Sinton threw on striker Jermaine Hamilton for defender Jack Smith in a bid to rescue the game, and when Michael Douglas played him in, he should have done better than the tame effort he produced.

As the clock ran down it seemed that Marlow would hang on for the victory, but in the 89th minute Fleet grabbed an equaliser.

Smart picked the ball up on the left and lofted a cross into the middle of a packed penalty area. As Elsegood just managed to toe the ball away from Hamilton the ball fell to Campbell and he smashed the ball into the corner to level the scores.

Fleet suddenly believed they could win the game and deep into injury time they got their chance. Another scramble in the box saw the ball drop on the volley to Hamilton, but he could only blaze wildly over the bar, forcing both sides to settle for a point.

The point sees Fleet remain top of the league, two points clear of Oxford City in second.

They have now played three games more than local rivals Farnborough, who they lead by seven points.

Fleet are back in action tomorrow night when they take on Four Marks in the Aldershot Senior Cup at Calthorpe Park. The game should give Sinton a chance to give fringe players a full 90 minutes and ease back into action some of his players returning from injuries.

Fleet: Paul Smith 7, Damien Smith 6, Jack Smith 6 (Hamilton 6), Noakes 6, Paterson 6, Howell 6, Douglas 6, *SMART 7, Field 5, Campbell 6, Anderson 6.

Star man: Nathan Smart
Not at his best but was involved in anything good that Fleet produced. Unlucky not to score and made the equaliser.

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail