Southam let slip a two-goal lead to draw 4-4 with nine-man Uttoxeter

Saints looked to have this match in the bag when going in at the break three goals to the good, but the visitors fought back in the second half to earn a point despite finishing with only nine men, writes David Hucker.
Uttoxeter keeper Alex Langridge received his marching orders following this incident, with Louis Bridges converting the resultant penalty to put Saints 4-2 up and seemingly in control. Picture: Morris TroughtonUttoxeter keeper Alex Langridge received his marching orders following this incident, with Louis Bridges converting the resultant penalty to put Saints 4-2 up and seemingly in control. Picture: Morris Troughton
Uttoxeter keeper Alex Langridge received his marching orders following this incident, with Louis Bridges converting the resultant penalty to put Saints 4-2 up and seemingly in control. Picture: Morris Troughton

Saints went into the lead from the penalty spot after just two minutes when Mark Springall brought down Pawel Tomczak and Louis Bridges calmly put the ball low into the corner.

Despite Springall receiving his marching orders, ten-man Town could have equalised shortly after when James Curley was given a free header from a Martin Gadsby corner, only to put his effort high and wide.

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They then had a shout for a penalty before Bridges had a great chance for a second, only to take too much time and shot weakly.

The returning Lee Thomas doubled the lead in the 24th minute, thumping a first- time shot from the edge of the box past Langridge and, a few minutes later, Bridges played in Tomczak who comfortably beat the keeper to make it 3-0.

Saints almost paid the penalty for some slack defending when a Michael Clough back header went straight to Curley, but his shot went wide and it took a good save from Tom Cross to maintain their three-goal cushion at half-time.

But, just as two weeks ago against Racing Club Warwick, the hosts failed to build on their first-half superiority.

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When Curley pulled an early goal back and substitute Matt Redshaw ran unchallenged on to a through ball to lob Cross to make it 3-2, Saints were wobbling.

Manager Quentin Townsend replaced Andy Yeates in the 66th minute, with Nathan Jukes moving into midfield before Town lost another player as Langridge was sent off for throwing a punch.

Bridges converted the resultant penalty to extend Saints’ lead.

Another long ball caught out Josh Smith, but Cross came to the rescue, saving with his legs.

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Then, with nine minutes to go, Townsend was penalised for handling inside the area and Curley put the spot-kick away to set up an exciting finish.

Redshaw pounced after a shot had come back off the post to bring it back to 4-4 and Cross had to be at his sharpest to push another effort for a corner as Town chased an unlikely winner.

In the dying seconds, Jamie Hatfield’s shot was parried by Uttoxeter’s substitute keeper and Bridges just failed to convert the rebound.

Tomorrow, Saints are at home to Wednesfield in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase (3pm)