Common let game slip from their grasp

Yet again a match which they dominated for long periods slipped from their grasp as they conceded a late winner on Saturday.

Not for the first time this season, Common failed to convert a host of opportunities and were left rueing these misses when Daniel Barnard, who had earlier escaped punishment following a two-footed lunge at away goalkeeper Matt Shoesmith, hit the winner three minutes from time.

"It was so frustrating," said manager Ken Cherry. "We absolutely murdered them for 90 per cent of the game and we should have beaten them four or five-nil. What I'm pleased about is that we're still making chances, but we didn't put them home. They weren't a good side at all and they couldn't believe it at the end of the game."

Brian Ray had a couple of chances for Common during the opening 45 minutes, but 0-0 at half time was a fair reflection on the match.

Common began to tighten their grip on the game in the second period. Good link-up play saw Jared Lusted released on the right hand side before delivering a super cross into the middle only for Ray to hit wide.

Ray was then presented with Common's best chance of the contest when a Steve Willard strike rebounded off the post, but Ray's follow up shot was saved by the home goalkeeper before Willard clipped the top of the crossbar with a further rebound.

Common's misery was complete in injury time when skipper Craig Willard was dismissed for two cautions. Common remain third, but the return of topscorer Mark Freeman cannot come soon enough.

Common: Shoesmith, Hover, Fullerton (Bigg), Sparks, S. Willard, C. Willard, Brown, Lusted, W. Parsons, Ray, Larkin. Subs not used: B. Smith, K. Parsons.