Wells fight hard for a share of the points at Cheddar

Cheddar missed a golden opportunity to go to the top of the Toolstation Western League First Division on Boxing Day after allowing the lead to slip on three occasions against local rivals Wells City in a pulsating encounter.

The long-awaited clash between two of the in-form teams in the division saw second play sixth at Bowdens Park, but while Cheddar were the better side over the 90 minutes, they could not see off a spirited Wells fightback.

The game got off to an intense start in front of a large crowd of 228 as Mark Armstrong was booked for the home side in the opening minute for a foul from behind on City's Tom Smith.

Wells then went close to taking the lead on five minutes as a Lee Pitman effort was blocked by Danny Griffiths, before the ball broke to Cheddar's Craig Mawford, who quickly turned defence into attack with a superb cross-field ball that found Sam Jones galloping down the left channel.

Jones did well to hold the ball up and with Will Justin going on walkabouts, Jones' patience proved crucial as he waited for a gap to appear before slamming the ball home from 12 yards out.

The lead did not last long, though, as Cheddar keeper Mike Dangerfield was caught out after tripping Jake Brown on the edge of his own penalty area, with Lee Pitman clipping the ball over the four-man wall and into the bottom corner from the free-kick.

Cheddar's response was immediate. They earned themselves a corner and Tom Manning's set-piece drifted towards the back post where Justin was unsighted as both Mike Grist and Ollie Bryant failed to clear the ball from crossing the line to give Cheddar a 2-1 lead on 20 minutes.

The hosts almost added a third on the half-hour and once again it was Jones who engineered the move that would have been a contender for goal of the season. He rode four challenges during a 50-yard dash, before his right-foot shot came back off the post.

Jones again went close a few minutes later when he lifted the ball inches over the crossbar following superb link up play between Mark Armstrong and Mawford, while Adam Jones stabbed an effort straight at Justin shortly before the half-time break.

Cheddar continued to have the greater share of possession at the start of the second half and from a Ricky Bennett free-kick, Jones headed inches over the crossbar at the back post, before Manning was booked for a nudge on James Batchelor to give Wells another free-kick in an attacking position.

Pitman's strike was blocked this time by the Cheddar wall, but the ball fell to Ollie Bryant who reacted brilliantly to find space and send a low shot under the body of Dangerfield to bring his side level again.

Cheddar almost regained the lead when a Sam Jones through ball found Adam Jones, who outstripped his marker, only to send his shot straight at Justin. Meanwhile Armstrong went close again for Cheddar with a left foot shot that drifted inches wide.

However, it was an inspirational substitution by Cheddar manager Jarad Greenhalgh that led to the home side's third, as Robbie Maggs thundered a right-foot shot past Justin within minutes of coming on.

To their credit, Wells pushed hard for an equaliser and it came via a Danny Griffiths own goal in the final minute.

Griffiths ,who had been outstanding throughout, attempted to head clear a shot from substitute Lucas Kysluca, but the ball held up in the wind and somehow found its way into the corner of the net for a freak equaliser to give the visitors a valuable point.

Merv's merit marks

Cheddar: M Dangerfield 6, C Mawford 8, L Matthews 7, M Armstrong 8, S King 7, D Griffiths 7, G Booth 7, R Bennett 7, A Jones 6, T Manning 7, S JONES 8,

Wells City: W Justin 6, S Saunders 7, O BRYANT 8, s Gerrish 7, M Grist 7, T Smith 6, S Sokol 6, J Batchelor 8, L Brittain 7, Pitman 8, Brown 6.

Referee: Greg Wentland 6

Entertainment value: 8