The Peacocks fought back from a two goal deficit to salvage a 3-3 Evo-Stik League draw against Hendon at the Viridor Stadium this afternoon (25th August).
Despite Town being far from their best, they showed their battling qualities to gain a point with a stoppage time penalty.
The visitors made much the better start and were ahead after seven minutes, Ricardo German tapping into an empty net from Marvin Morgan’s centre. The Peacocks steadied the ship but despite pressurising couldn’t break through and were caught on the counter after 34 minutes when German finished clinically inside the box. Matt Wright headed in at the far post from Shane White’s cross four minutes before the break to put Town back in the picture going into the second half but hopes took another dive on 56 minutes when German barged through the defence to fire past Lloyd Irish and claim his hat trick.
After Dan Sullivan lashed home a fine strike from the left side to reduce the arrears after 66 minutes, both keepers prevented further goals with Irish saving from Laste Dombaxe while Hendon keeper Danny Boness foiled Sullivan again and Craig Veal as Town searched for the equaliser. This eventually came six minutes into stoppage time when Wright netted from the penalty spot following a handball offence to ensure the spoils were fairly shared. The Peacocks now prepare for Bank Holiday Monday’s local derby at league leaders Tiverton Town.
Reaction | manager Leigh Robinson commented: “It was a highly uncharacteristic performance today I thought with an awful lot of defensive errors and chances missed leading to a frustrating afternoon. Fighting back from two goals down twice again shows the never say die attitude but we can’t keep digging ourselves out of trouble like that and simply have to tighten up from our last three games.”