Town denied in top of table six-pointer by Park late show - Match report: Aylestone Park 1 Nuneaton Town 1

By Matt Jones

Aylestone Park 1-1 Nuneaton Town
(Samuels 90+3 : Jardine (p) 23)
Attendance: 393

Nuneaton Town came within a whisker of extending their lead at the top of the table on Tuesday evening as Louis Samuels late bundle cancelled out Kyle Jardine's 13th goal of the season against 2nd placed Aylestone Park.

Town grew into the game and had the better of the opening minutes. Callum Carsley had a goalbound free kick deflected wide on 9 minutes, whilst Loyiso Recci had a header on target from a corner but former Nuneaton Borough keeper Liam Castle held on easily. Seconds later Jardine tried a lob from half way which dropped just wide with Castle beaten.

Eesa Sawyers was using his pace to create chances himself, the best of those on 20 minutes as he latched onto a through ball before having his shot deflected over the bar. From the corner Jardine scuffed a shot to Castle from Declan Somel's ball across the box. Somel's next involvement was to fire a volley from a headed away long throw which was handballed by a defender in the box. Jardine stepped up to slam the penalty down the middle (1-0).

Nuneaton continued to pepper the Aylestone goal with efforts, as on 28 minutes a long throw to Somel saw him hit the volley just wide, and Charlie Jones had an effort from the corner of the box palmed away four minutes later. The last chance of the half came from Jardine as he nearly repeated his trick from Knowle on Saturday only being denied by the top of the defenders head.

Half time: Aylestone Park 0-1 Nuneaton Town

If Nuneaton wanted to extend their lead, it proved quite difficult as Aylestone Park came out the better side. But from an early chance for Jardine, losing his footing as he tried to get a toe onto a cross, Town goalkeeper Brandon Bache was called into action as much as Castle was first half.

Firstly he closed down a through ball to block an effort on 58 minutes, then made a great double save on 72 minutes, plus a further one on 80.

Jardine had a solo effort blocked with 8 to go, but that was the last of the Nuneaton chances as they sat back looking to see out the win. However, deep into stoppage time Town's back line was finally breached as a lifted cross into the middle caused confusion between keeper and defender and the ball dropped over the line despite best efforts to keep it out. The goal was awarded to Louis Samuels.

An unfortunate way to end what had been a good backs to the wall effort 2nd half. But on reflection it could be a good point come the end of the season. Both sides incredibly remain unbeaten 10 games into the season, and Nuneaton's 6 point gap at the top remains, with one of the toughest games of the season now over.

Full time: Aylestone Park 1-1 Nuneaton Town

Team: Bache, Thomas, Recci, McGrath, Carsley, Currithers, C Jones, Somel, Sawyers (Brown 88), Hendrie (L Jones 76), Jardine (Johnson 88)

Subs: Hesson, Brown, L Jones, Gillies, Johnson