Oakham left wondering how they only drew

Oakham United Reserves drew 2-2 at home to Pinchbeck United Reserves in a game that they dominated and will feel they should have won.

Oakham started well but it was Pinchbeck who took the lead, against the run of play. Pinchbeck broke and Oakham conceded a free kick 40 yards out. The free kick was sent over and Oakham gifted a free header, which was duly scored.

The game became more even over the next 15 minutes and Oakham’s best chance in that period came from a Sharp free-kick. The keeper punched his effort, but that resulted in a goalmouth scramble, but Oakham couldn’t put the ball in the net.

The final 10 minutes was much like the opening 20, with Oakham dominating. With a couple of minutes remaining in the half, George Maxwell’s free-kick forced a save, low to the keeper’s right and from the resulting corner, Oakham equalised. Liam Mullineaux’s corner was met by the head of Adam Clark, who nodded low from close range.

Oakham pushed on from there and in stoppage time, they made it 2-1. James North played a pass out to the right to Hart and he produced a magnificent piece of skill to beat two defenders, before laying the ball to Sharp, who himself beat a defender at the near post before putting the ball into the far corner.

Oakham’s halftime lead was nullified within a minute of the restart, as a couple of mistakes led to keeper Andy Collin conceding a penalty. He was sent the wrong way, to make it 2-2.

The game became scrappy with both teams slugging it out, rather than playing flowing football but after the hour mark, Oakham began to dominate again. Pinchbeck created a few chances, but Oakham created many more. Mullineaux and Hart had several efforts at goal, but a lot of their shots were hit at the Pinchbeck keeper.

With three minutes to play Michael West could have won it but his headed effort hit the crossbar. .

Assistant manager Dave Grieve said: “We made a couple of mistakes to gift them their goals but apart from that, we looked better than in the last couple of games and we should have won this game comfortably. We’ve got one more game left this calendar year, so we’re looking to finish on a high.”