Cambridge City squandered a golden opportunity to record maximum points at Priory Lane when substitute Tony Battersby saw his stoppage time penalty kick saved by Lee Hook at the end of a lively encounter with Borough. Victory would have taken Gary Roberts’ men to the brink of qualification for the Conference League but Hook’s heroics ensured that City still need a minimum of six points from their remaining five games to achieve their target.

City made one change to the starting line-up against Moor Green with Louis Riddle being restored to the left-wing in place of the injured Richard Scott.

Louis Riddle and Matt Piper get close

Both sides made a vibrant start to the game, but, probably because there was so much riding on this fixture, neither side could gain the upper hand as the ball zipped to and fro under the leaden April sky. Borough had the first chance of the game after only five minutes. Defender Stuart Tuck ventured forward as the home side won an early corner. Danny Simmonds floated the ball over and Tuck made good contact but saw his headed effort sail harmlessly over the crossbar.

With drizzle falling, City carved out their first meaningful chance moments later. Carl Williams crossed from the right and Lloyd Blackman reached the ball ahead of strike partner Robbie Simpson and the home defenders but only managed to glance his header wide of the target. City were showing some encouraging signs early on and with a quarter of an hour on the clock Matt Langston got forward, jinked his way past two challenges, before appearing to overhit his throughball. Lee Pluck, surging down the left wing, just managed to hook his foot around the ball pulling it back for Blackman who, although in a very attacking position, was denied a header at goal by the combined efforts of Stuart Playford and Matt Piper. From the resulting throw-in, Rob Miller crossed the ball into the box where Blackman and Simpson caused another anxious moment for the home side before it was eventually scrambled to safety.

The game was being played amidst a cacophony of drums and whistles as the home supporters were giving their heroes a noisy backing, but it was City who were generally in control. Miller was his usual industrious self on the right hand side of midfield, and was at the centre of another good moment for City, his accurate ball found Blackman who flicked it first time to Stuart Niven who in turn directed the ball over the top to Simpson. He peeled away to the left. Unfortunately, the teenage striker couldn’t get any purchase on his shot and Hook was able to comfortably make the save without any alarms.

At the back, City had quite comfortably repelled everything up to that point but that was about to change as Eastbourne struck first blood in the 23rd minute with their first effort on target. Winger Matt Crabb scampered down the right, got the better of Lee Chaffey before sending in a cross which Langston should really have dealt with. However, he attempted a risky first time clearance and missed the ball completely, Pluck couldn’t get near and Ollie Rowland was on hand to thump the loose ball into the net from 18 yards. A quality finish and City, despite their promising start, found themselves chasing the game.

City sub Tony Battersby steadies himself before pulling City level

The equalizer was nearly forthcoming on 39 minutes. Blackman, a constant menace for the home rearguard, was clattered by Darren Baker some twenty yards out. The Brentford loanee picked himself up and curled a delightful free-kick past Hook’s fingertips, the ball rattling the crossbar and behind to safety.

On the stroke of half-time, Borough fashioned two more shooting chances. Firstly Tuck, sporting a bandaged head, punted a long ball upfield, the bounce deceived Chaffey and substitute Mark Goodwin nipped in to direct a 20 yarder just wide of the post with Davies at full stretch. Then seconds later, Tuck was again the provider, this time finding talisman Scott Ramsay in acres of space midway inside the City half. His shot was also wide of the mark, with Davies again having to sprawl to his left to cover.

City began the second period in determined fashion, intent on levelling the scores as early as possible. They nearly acheived this straight from the kick-off with a classy attack. Miller released Riddle deep inside the Borough half, the winger showed good acceleration as he charged into enemy territory, tangled with Matt Piper before picking out Miller who had supported the attack. The midfielder found Lewis Baillie in the penalty area with a deft touch, and the ball was layed back to Simpson who scooped his effort inches over the bar.

Ten minutes later, Davies had to be alert after Mark Goodwin picked Miller’s pocket and let fly immediately. The shot was too hot to handle at the first attempt, but City’s ‘keeper managed to hang on at the second.

The game now was much more open, and the action was more of the end-to-end variety. Ramsay headed over when unmarked in the 56th minute from a dangerously flighted corner. Craig Pope replaced Pluck, and was immediately involved in the action, finding Niven out on the right flank. The ball was whipped in to the back post where Blackman’s goalbound header was deflected behind for a corner. Four minutes later, Davies had to dive to his left to save at the foot of his post from Tuck’s long-range effort.

Lewis Baillie loses out in this midfield tussle

With twenty five minutes remaining, Tony Battersby was sent on to replace Simpson and with his first touch fired City back into the game. Blackman’s quickly taken throw-in found Williams inside the box with his back to goal, he neatly escaped the attentions of Jay Richardson and Baker before pulling the ball back from the byeline. His cross eluded Langston but found Battersby lurking in the six yard area. His hooked shot nestled nicely in the back of the net.

Buoyed by this, City pressed for a second goal, Miller tried his luck from 20 yards seeing his effort whistle over the bar.

On 75 minutes, Riddle collided with Richardson in the middle of the park , leaving the City winger in agony on the ground. Eastbourne, instead of sportingly putting the ball into touch to allow treatment, elected to continue on the attack. Simmonds crossed from the right and Ramsay headed on target from point blank range only for Davies to be in exactly the right place at the right time to snatch the ball out of the air. The ‘keeper instantly cleared the ball deliberately into touch. Both Richardson and Riddle took no further part in the game, the latter eventually being stretchered off the field.

With eight minutes left, City survived appeals for a penalty when Goodwin crossed from the right. Their was a suspicion of handball in the box as strikers and defenders converged on the ball as it flashed across goal. The protests came mainly from behind the goal, and play quickly switched to the other end and it was City’s turn to claim a penalty. Baillie played a one-two with Williams and charged into the penalty area past Simmonds. Hopelessly beaten, the Borough man lunged at, but got nowhere near the ball, bringing Baillie crashing to the ground. To the amazement of the visitors, and in particular Baillie who vehemently demanded a spotkick, the referee decided that the leftback had dived and brandished a yellow card.

Borough had looked dangerous from set-plays throughout the afternoon and City had to survive two more before, deep in stoppage time, Niven launched one more raid. His pinpoint ball forward found Blackman galloping towards goal with Playford in hot pursuit. In fairness, the initial contact was outside the box, but Blackman finally tumbled inside the area and the referee, this time, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Playford was given his marching orders and up stepped Battersby with a match-winning penalty chance. His kick was struck powerfully to Hook’s right, but the ‘keeper pulled off a top class save to rescue a point for the hosts.

At the end of the day, a point gained but Gary Robert’s men were left to rue that last gasp failure from the spot and two precious points that got away.

Post match reaction