Paul Booth and Duane Jackman netted for their respective sides in the space of five second half minutes as City and Stortford shared the spoils in a closely contested local derby.

New signing Danny Naisbiett was drafted straight into the starting line-up at the expense of Ricky Millard in an otherwise unchanged City line-up from that which saw of Eastwood Town in Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay.

Michael Gash flicks on for Paul Booth

The Blues needed only one attempt to beat Fleet Town last Saturday but this victory, coupled with an impressive league win over Sutton a fortnight ago didn’t prevent Martin Hayes drafting in a new strike pairing of former Milton Road old-boys, Roy Essandoh and Louie Evans.

Both teams started at a good tempo and from the first whistle it became apparent that the two sides were evenly matched. The hosts’ first sight of goal came some ten minutes in when Mark Molesley combined to create space for Michael Gash, who in turn squared for strike partner Paul Booth to shot across the face of the six yard box.

The Blues almost seized on Jamie Southon’s slip in centre field as Evans freed Dave Rainford but the visitors’ skipper saw his rising drive palmed away by Naisbitt who was already looking very assured between the posts.

Midway through the half Matt Langston linked up with the attack to good effect, collecting Mark Molesley’s pass before sliding a well judged through ball into the path of Josh Simpson. The teenage midfielder was denied a goal against his home town club thanks to the alert Danny Gay. Paul Booth seized on the loose ball but was denied the space to capitalise.

A swift Stortford break saw Alex Martin find Evans some ten yards from goal but Naisbitt reacted superbly to turn the shot around his right hand post with an excellent reflex save.

Next it was the turn of opposite number Gay to shine as he got down well to deflect Paul Booth’s low drive away for a corner after good work by Mark Molesley. The former Hayes schemer took the resultant flag kick and Booth bundled the ball home at the far post but the goal was rightly chalked off for handball.

Matt Langston challenges former City man, Roy Essandoh

Danny Naisbitt was called into action again before the break this time to rectify his own mistake. The former AFC Wimbledon stopper made a hash of Lee Chaffey’s back pass and played Craig Pope into all kinds of trouble. Essandoh seemed certain to capitalise but the ‘keeper redeemed himself with a strong parry from point blank range.

Martin Hayes changed his strike force at the interval introducing Duane Jackman at the expense of Evans.

It was City who were sharper out of the blocks however and their positive approach earned them the opening goal four minutes after the restart. Michael Gash played a controlled header into the path of Dobson who accelerated away from Gareth Gwillim and sent a perfectly flighted centre into the space between Gay and the central defenders. The ‘keeper came to collect arriving at the same time as the advancing Paul Booth. The ball broke loose in the challenge with the former Welling marksman the first to react by audaciously back-heeling into the net.

The Lilywhites failed to capitalise on their lead however and were guilty of allowing their opponents too much space in midfield. It was a tactic that was to prove costly as Alex Martin found himself with a remarkable amount of freedom wide on the Stortford left. The former Charlton player advanced before unleashing a drive which Naisbitt did well to keep out but couldn’t hold. The ball was squared back across the face of goal and Jackman had the simple task of prodding home from close range.

Gary Roberts tried to introduce an element of control by swapping Steve Parmenter for Jamie Southon. But the visitors, in the shape of the increasingly influential Martin continued to find room to manoeuvre . The diminutive wide man given the time to play a measured pass wide to Bob Thanda whose misdirected cross bounced off the top of the bar.

Booth looks to set up another City attack

As the Blues continued to exploit the wide areas Richard Howell cut in from the right and saw his low drive deflected narrowly wide with Naisbitt struggling. Martin’s resultant corner found it’s way to the far post where Howell nipped in front of Gash but a combination of poor finishing and alert goalkeeping ensured the scores remained level.

At this stage of the afternoon Jackman looked to carry the greatest goal threat of any striker on display and he was again unmarked on the edge of the box when firing over the angle much to the annoyance of Naisbitt who remonstrated angrily with his defenders.

With a little over ten minutes remaining City started to play more of the game in their opponents half. Dobson was fouled on the right, Molesley’s whipped free kick was glanced on by Booth at the near post for Matt Langston who had timed his attacking run to perfection but the central defender just got underneath the ball and lifted it over the bar.

The hosts thought they should have been awarded a penalty five minutes from time when Martin handled in the box, in an attempt to win back the ball Molesley fouled the Blues number eleven and to add to his frustration with referee Mr Buck found himself cautioned.

City looked the most likely in the closing stages with Booth, Dobson and Glen Fuff from long range all peppering the Stortford goal but in truth neither side did enough to justify winning the game and few could argue with the final scoreline.