Bowers & Pitsea 1-1 Wroxham

(Thomas ‘12: Waters OG ‘6)

From the Len Salmon Stadium

Ryman North

By Dan Thurogood

BOWERS & Pitsea were unable to break down a resilient Wroxham defence as they shared the spoils in a tight encounter.

The visitors took the lead early on through an Aaron Waters own goal before James Thomas stepped up to grab the equaliser.

And Bowers assistant Frank Everett was disappointed with the result, and felt his side were worth more than the one point.

“I feel we did OK in the first-half,” he said. “But I was relieved to go in level and both sides looked pretty even. In the second-half I thought we were better and looked more threatening than they did but we just couldn’t find that goal.

“We hit the crossbar as well so it just feels like one of those days and on another day we would have got the winner. A draw is OK but I am a bit disappointed we couldn’t win it.”

Wroxham started the better and got the lead after just six minutes thanks to an own goal from the unfortunate Waters.

Cruise Nyadayo’s whipped cross took a wicked deflection off the defender and, although he got a hand to it, Martyn Guest couldn’t stop the ball hitting the roof of the net.

Bowers responded well and found themselves level just a few minutes later.

Alfie Hilton was played in down the right, and rounded the onrushing keeper to reach the byline. His low cross was partially cleared and he played it straight across the box to the unmarked Thomas who finished into an empty net.

Lewis Manor had a glorious chance just before half-time to put the hosts in front for the first time but, following good work from Tom Hine, the forward fluffed his lines from just three yards out.

Cassimiro Detocampol tested Guest with a free-kick for the visitors and, right on half-time, Manor tried an audacious volley for Bowers which whistled just over the crossbar.

In the second-half, Stevens had a free-kick from 30 yards which was inches away from finding the top corner before Shomari Barnwell hit the under-side of the bar after good work down the right from Hine.

The rebound fell to Thomas but his effort was blocked and Wroxham managed to clear.

With only a few minutes remaining Hine had a wonderful chance to win it.

Substitute Fahad Nyanja skipped past a couple of players before sliding a through ball into the midfielder, he took a touch past the defender but from the edge of the box ballooned his effort well over the bar.

Bowers& Pitsea: Guest, Pethers, Russell, Stokes, Waters, Thomas (Nyanja), Hine, Stevens (Sartain), Barnwell, Manor, Hilton