Tom Shaw saves the Harriers

Tom Shaw came on as a late second half sub at Eastbourne Borough today and played a big part in salvaging an un-deserved point for the Harriers.  In fact it was a double rescue because if Borough had managed to hold on to their first half lead, through a strike from Richard Paquette, then that would have been our first defeat since away at Barrow back in mid January.

We were up against a team that had shipped nine goals in their last two games and we needed to make sure of a win to keep in touch with the rest of the play-off pack.  With Shaw dropping to the bench to allow the return of Keith Briggs to the side we were putting out the same team that had grabbed a draw at Grimsby last week.  Eastbourne were also on the verge of relegation before todays game and this draw eventually confirmed that.

We started the first half slowly and never really got going.  We were the first to try something but Sean Canhams header from Matty Blairs corner was easily taken by the Boro keeper Rikki Banks.  Boro answered with a chance for Simon Johnson but Paquette inexplicably deflected the ball way over the goal.  A few minutes later the Harriers keeper, Danny Lewis, was crudely challenged by Eddie Hutchinson from a free kick but the referee waved play on.

Our first real chance of the half came from Lee Vaughan but his strong thirty yard strike was just off target.  Apart from that we weren't performing very well considering what was at stake.  A minute later and Eastbourne went into the lead.

Pacquette, with his back to goal, was allowed time to turn twenty five yards from goal and let fly a shot past the Harriers keeper.  That lead was to last until fifteen minutes from the end of the game.

Boro seemed content with the lead and gave the impression that would be enough to keep us at bay and to keep them up.  We tried a bit harder to get back into the game with chances falling for Blair and Nick Wright but nothing came off for us and we went into the break a goal down and not playing too well.

At the start of the second period Sean Canham was left behind in the dressing room to make way for Jamille Matt.  It was obvious from Canhams first half showing that he's not the most dynamic player out there whereas at least Matt does like to terrorise defences.

Straight away he played Keith Briggs in for a chance to strike on goal but a last ditch tackle by Ben Austin stopped him in his tracks.  Matt then won a free kick after being fouled by Simon Johnson but the kick was sent way over the bar by Michael Briscoe.  We did seem to be playing with slightly more intent this half.

Eastbourne were still in the game though and forced Danny Lewis into a good save from Paquette after a mistake from Briscoe had let in the former York City striker.  Just after that we made a second change to the team with Callum Gittings coming on in place of Nick Wright and then a few minutes later we made another substitution with Briggs making way for the eventual scorer, Shaw.

Six minutes after Shaw coming on we finally got a goal back to give us our third draw on the trot.  Matt had gone up for a cross with the Boro keeper and both crashed into each other with the ball running free for Tom Shaw to strike the ball firmly into the back of the net.

Following the goal the Boro players were up in arms to the referee over what they thought was an unfair challenge but the ref waved them away and allowed the goal to stand.  Boro's Eddie Hutchinson found himself carded for his arguing.  Seconds later Jamie Taylor also found himself booked following a cynical tackle from behind on Chris McPhee.

Apart from a few more bad tackles going in and a few half chances on goal that's the way the game ended.  Borough seemed resigned to the fact that their chance of avoiding relegation had gone and we seemed satisfied with the point that keeps our unbeaten run intact.

It wasn't really enough with the news that Fleetwood had stretched the gap between us further with a 3-1 win at home to Altrincham but there was good news too with York failing disastrously at home to a relegation threatened Tamworth.  Darlington surprisingly lost at Hayes and we'll now have to do a similar job on them when they arrive at Aggborough this coming Tuesday.

Then we have the big one.  Friday night is Fleetwood night and that game is now a 'must win' game.

 Goal for Eastbourne: Paquette 28
 Goal for Harriers: Shaw 76

REFEREE:

Mr J Hopkins Essex