City grab last ditch equaliser against 10 man Downham Town

The Lilywhites ended their home campaign with the visit of Downham Town on Saturday afternoon. City were looking to bounce back from the defeat to Redbridge last weekend

Downham were coming into the match having been recently relegated thanks to a 3-1 home loss against Brightlingsea Regent. Town were win-less in 5 away matches.

A sizeable 616 crowd saw Thomas Whay allow the match to get underway and the first chance fell to the hosts. Freddie Hockey fired in a cross from the right-hand side and Iffy Allen shot wide from close range at the far post, after both Codey Cosgrave and George Smith missed the decisive touch to find the net.

Philip Mendy found himself on the left after 11 minutes, Hockey was given the ball from Mendy and his cross was headed over by Smith, albeit in an offside position.

Allen then won City a corner after 16 minutes. The cross was delivered into the 18-yard area and Ali Njie reacted first to fire City into the lead.

Downham looked to hit back 4 minutes later with Arturs Visocanskis sending Charlie Royle down the right. Mendy came in with a challenge that not only won the ball, but also a goal-kick for his team.

Cosgrave and Hockey then broke down the other end for the hosts, the cross was beaten away by Charlie Congreve. The corner was sent in and cleared off the line, then Charley Barker scooped up and over from close range.

A strong moment came for captain Jayden Randell shortly after. The defender still had the ball after intercepting a pass and managing to stave off challenges from both Harley Murkin and Royle.

A few minutes later and the visitors were awarded a penalty after a foul in the penalty area. Lagshan Sivakumar sending James Philp the wrong way to level.

Time was running out in the 1^st half but both teams still found chances. A long ball from Randell was sent up to Hockey, and the defensive clearance was picked up by Smith, but Congreve made the save to keep it 1-1.

Aaron Williams-Bushell found Allen on the right, with Cosgrave waiting at the far post to shoot directly at Congreve.

With 1 minute to go until half-time, Eoin Mcquaid received the ball after Mendy had lost out. Mcquaid was crowded out, but he managed to lay a pass to Luke Reed, who's swirling shot almost caught out Philp. The first half then came to an end with the scores level.

Downham started faster in the 2^nd half, Royle's cross was cleared but only as far as Jake Miller, with the effort sailing over the crossbar.

After  50 minutes, Downham goalkeeper Congreve intercepted a long pass outside of his own penalty area and then decided to dribble further up the pitch. His clearance went all the way to Philp and then the hosting keeper played Hockey through with an open goal presented for the striker. However, the effort flew over.

City came forward again a couple of minutes later, which saw Hockey's left footed shot saved after good work by Allen.

With 65 minutes gone, and after Downham had soaked up all the pressure, the visitors were given a big chance at the opposite end. A long ball from Sivakumar found substitute Dylan Kirk who was steaming into the 18-yard box, but the striker sent his tame shot wide of the upright.

A City corner came with 20 minutes left to play. Kojo Apenteng's cross was initially punched away by Congreve, and Njie was then denied a 2^nd goal with a clearance off the goal-line.

Royle was making the afternoon uncomfortable for the Lilywhites, and after 73 minutes that wasn't changing. Royle's pass allowed Krisztian Gagyi to force Philp into a save.

The corner kick following came short, which led to Hockey breaking down the other end. At least, attempting to break, as a foul just outside the centre circle stopped the City man in his tracks. A tussle soon followed, a collision which saw the dismissal of Jake Miller.

With time running out, City continued to pile the pressure on Downham. Alex Warman and Jaiden Babalola worked well together, with Babalola's cross just missing Smith in the penalty area. Babalola then took a shot from 30 yards that flew wide.

With all of the City pressure, there was always a chance for Downham to strike at the other end, and after a miss placed pass, Kirk was given the opportunity and he duly accepted it as he rounded Philp and rolled the ball into the empty net to give the 10-man visitors the lead.

City weren't behind for long, however. Warman picked out the returning Ryan King and King took a pot shot at goal that just sneaked in past a bewildered Congreve to level it up once again and give King his 2^nd goal for the club.

Njie's throw found Hockey soon after, and the drag back to Smith was deflected away for a corner. A corner which saw Randell's strong header get parried away by Congreve.

There was no winning goal in sight and the final whistle brought the match to a close. The Lilywhites finished their home season with 8 wins, 6 draws and 7 losses, and City will conclude the season looking to end with a victory away at Brantham Athletic next week.