Last gasp anguish for Common

Little Common were denied a notable away victory by a goal in the dying seconds on Saturday.
Steve Morris bagged his 13th goal of the season in Little Common's 1-1 draw away to OakwoodSteve Morris bagged his 13th goal of the season in Little Common's 1-1 draw away to Oakwood
Steve Morris bagged his 13th goal of the season in Little Common's 1-1 draw away to Oakwood

There was barely time for Common to kick-off after Mick Hennessey struck an added time equaliser for third-placed Oakwood in Macron Store Sussex County Football League Division Two.

The draw did at least end Common’s run of three consecutive league defeats, but they inevitably returned home disappointed not to have picked up their first league win since late September.

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Common player-manager Russell Eldridge said: “I felt gutted for the boys. After the hard work and the way we played, for it to be taken away at the end was agonising really.

“We played really well again and it just seems to be our luck at the moment. We can’t quite put that performance into a victory. Before the game we probably would’ve taken a point, but as the game went on, we would’ve wanted the three points.”

Common took a first half lead through a very good team goal scored by the in-form Steve Morris, who latched on to a good throughball and cut back onto his right foot before curling a shot into the top corner for his 13th goal of the season.

The visitors might well have been further ahead at the break. Morris and Lewis Hole were excellent up-front, and the latter struck the post with a shot from outside the area. A couple of other balls flashed across the box which the front two were just unable to get on the end of.

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Oakwood had a bit of pressure in the second half and Matt Cruttwell was forced into a couple of good saves, while at the other end, Hole flashed a shot just wide of the far post after a good ball from Paul Feakins.

Both teams played the latter stages with 10 men. Oakwood player Liam Coughlan was sent-off for a bad tackle on Common debutant Jason Fregene, who saw red for retaliating.

Oakwood pinched a point right at the death. A corner was cleared to the edge of box where Hennessey fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

“We showed a little bit more togetherness, there was a little bit more quality about us, we defended better as a unit and we created chances as well,” added Eldridge.

Common: Cruttwell, Sherwood, McEniry, Smith, R. Mote (Fregene), Eldridge, Dolan, Feakins, Denny (Hill), Hole, Morris. Sub not used: Brown.

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