KJM SPORT REPORT Shepton Mallet 1 Millbrook AFC 1

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Last Updated on Monday, 28 February 2022 15:11

Published on Monday, 28 February 2022 10:33

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT Cornwall football's touchline ace

There’s something, isn’t there, about a last minute equaliser miles away from home which has you celebrating as if you’ve just won the lottery?

It was more of an early birthday present for Millbrook manager Macca Brown, who enjoyed his Sunday morning tea and toast basking in the glory of Josh Toulson’s injury time Western Prem equaliser at Shepton Mallet.

 
It cancelled out Arron Seviour’s 83rd minute goal for the home side, who missed a penalty five minutes later when Nick Hewlett’s spot kick hit the post.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
You know the feeling. You’ve not even won the match – but you have avoided defeat and you have finally shut up the irritating home fans behind the dugouts who have been giving you stick all match.

It makes the long journey back to Cornwall far more bearable than if you’d just lost 1-0.

Brown, on his first day as a 38-year-old, said: “It’s a strange feeling, the manner of the late goal makes it feel better than some wins, just like at Saltash on Boxing Day.

“But it’s not a surprise; that’s late goals against Saltash, Bridgwater, Willand, Helston and now Shepton Mallet to salvage either a replay, a point or even all three this season, which is amazing from the lads.

“It doesn’t matter who plays, that’s what we are about. Shepton Mallet will probably think they deserved all three points, but we’ve been in that situation a few times this season ourselves as well, as recently as the Street game the other week, so I’m not too bothered about that.”

Brown went on: “Again, the fantastic character this team has in abundance snatched us a point in the dying minutes, in what I’ll unashamedly admit was in smash and grab fashion.

“We didn’t start well at all, we were far too open and careless in possession, any team would have had the same joy against us and Shepton Mallet wasted some good chances.

“It could have been game over in that opening 20 minutes but what we did do is throw our bodies at everything even in those early stages.

“We started to find our feet which is a common pattern in these long away trips and it was vital we were still 0-0 at that point.

“We were defending much better as a team and started to cause them a few problems ourselves. At half time we could take a deep breath, address some things and I thought we carried on where we left off just before half time, looking a lot more organised.

“As the game went on, I thought we were going to see the game out at 0-0, but we were counter-attacked after a poor free kick around the edge of their box with 10 minutes or so to go to put them ahead, and then when they were awarded a really soft penalty five minutes later you think it’s game over.

“But we know there’ll always be one more chance, even with 10 men, and the one bit of quality we showed saw a great cross by Charlie (Knight) headed in by JT.”

Millbrook’s attacking threat was significantly reduced by being without skipper Tom Payne, who makes the team tick; Sam Morcom, who is developing into a key player on the left of midfield; and Rikki Shepherd, who scores the majority of the side’s goals.

Brown said: “We are in a difficult period with injuries and that means there are different partnerships and connections around the pitch which prevents it being as fluent as normal as it’s a different line up each week.

“Ross Hamilton played his first game since Boxing Day after a back injury and Jake Foster could barely run but we got 50 minutes out of him.

“Also to be honest we lacked the desired quality and that hindered us on the attacking front and when it’s like that you have to just ensure you’re digging in and fighting for a point.

“It’s a shame we can’t be at full strength for these fixtures against teams around us but that’s how it is at the minute.”

Maybe a weekend off will aid Millbrook’s cause. They have no match on Saturday, which might allow some of the injured players to edge closer to a return.

Millbrook: C Wearing, C Mahoney, R Hamilton, J Wood, D Youldon, L Murray, J Foster, J Toulson, R Knight, J Richards, S Thomson. Subs: B Harris, M Brown, O Small, C Knight.

Goal: J Toulson (90+2)
 
SWSN Star Jack Wood – led by example as captain for the day.

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