Hellenic Div One: Shortwood 2 Newent 2
Luke Soule bagged a brace as Shortwood shared the spoils against resurgent Newent Town, writes Jim Cunneen.
Earlier, Shortwood gave debuts to Kyle Gibbs, who has returned to the club from Cheltenham Saracens and former Slimbridge midfielder Nathan Payne made his full debut. Meanwhile, Wood were without the injured Lee Bowles and Chalmers Phin, who has made the switch to Malmesbury.
Jordan Cooper nodded Newent ahead on 31 minutes, but Soule netted parity from the spot – converting after being upended in the box.
Newent regained the lead on 51 minutes – Coatley scoring from the spot after Dan Brabham brought down Cooper.
Wood introduced Max Harper – Emerson and Lennon Lewis from the bench in an effort to revitalise the team but still Wood struggled to recapture the form of the previous two games.
Lewis fired straight at Goode and with 12 minutes to go Soule’s clever chip rolled along the bar before dropping to safety.
This seemed to spark Wood and in the last 10 minutes they really pressed Newent back. Lewis Fogg shot narrowly wide and then Lewis and Harper – Emerson combined down the left. Harper – Emerson crossed to the far post where Soule headed home.
Fogg continued to pepper the visitors with long throws and in the last minute Harper – Emerson went down under a challenge from Goode but Wood’s appeals were waived away.
Shortwood boss Matt Blythe said: “Not the greatest of games at the Meadowbank. We didn’t do enough in open play to win the game, but set pieces were a threat. We hit the bar a couple of times, but overall a draw was a fair result against a well organised and rejuvenated Newent.”
Shortwood: Brabham, Peyton, Nowell, Tryner, Tunnicliff, Fogg, Payne (Lewis 63), Byrnes, Soule, Gibbs, Barrett (Harper – Emerson 57).
Star Man: Joe Tryner.
