Boreham Wood 1

Heybridge Swifts 1

Ryman League Premier Division

Only a 92nd minute equaliser from midfielder Mark Brown saved Wood's blushes on Tuesday evening as they scraped a draw against lowly Heybridge at Meadow park, and the headaches continue for the management team.

Chairman Phil Wallace had used his column in the match programme to spell out his dissatisfaction at the return on the season so far, saying in no uncertain terms that his patience is starting to run out.

He stated; "We haven't come this far to languish around the bottom of the table in a very average league, and it's getting very late in the day to keep talking about a recovery...we are not one of those clubs that will accept lying in 15th position after more than a quarter of the season has passed us by."

However, Harrow's spectacular 8-2 victory over Carshalton the same night has dropped Wood down a further rung in the Premier Division, and manager Bob Makin revealed afterwards that the cupboard is very nearly bare as he struggles to arrest an alarming decline, "Changes will now have to be made", he said, but added, "I have people on my mind that I want to bring in, but the budget dictates that others will have to go to make way for them."

Makin again spoke of "the video being the same, just the opposition name has changed", as his men played well in the first half, creating numerous chances which they failed to convert, due to a combination of profligate finishing and inspired goalkeeping.

To complete the familiar glow, it has to be added that Wood missed yet another penalty kick, remarkably their tenth failure in the last 15 attempts, and their 12-yard curse has now reached an epidemic stage.

The opportunity came their way in the 37th minute, after Swifts keeper Kingsley Banks had fouled Junior Samuels, and Brown became the latest fall guy, seeing the custodian dive to his left to push aside a well struck kick which Makin described as being at "saveable height".

It made one quite nostalgic for the days, not so long ago, that Tony Joyce finished third highest scorer with 16 goals - 12 of them penalties, but it was Banks' second spot kick save at Meadow Park in the last two years.

Makin revealed that Alan McCarthy had been the pre-arranged penalty taker, but one has to applaud Brown in volunteering for what is rapidly becoming seemingly an impossible job.

Wood had dominated possession and camped in the Heybridge half throughout the first period, seeing David Streetley and Banks between them clear a Garry Nisbet header, and early in the second half a wonderful cross by Bruce Sewell found Colin Simpson unmarked on the far post, but he could not steer his header away from the keeper.

Samuels sent another free header well wide, and Banks made a brilliant double save from Simpson, but in the 57th minute, as if on cue, Swifts went ahead.

Terry Rayner's clever pass split Wood's defence wide open, and substitute Nigel Hewes galloped through to finish confidently.

Memories of last term's stormy contest came flooding back as tempers began to fray, and Samuels and Steve Heffer were booked, whilst the hosts survived a penalty appeal as McClean went down under Nisbet's challenge.

Wood piled on the pressure, forcing 13 corners to one, but as the 90 minute mark passed, Swifts looked set for only their second win of the season.

Then substitute Mark Xavier was fouled on the edge of the box by Fiddes, and Brown crashed home the free kick via the post.

So a point was salvaged against the team with the worst goals for and against columns in the division, a fact that Makin was only too aware of. "We'll just have to get our heads down and work harder...and hope for better things on Saturday," he said.

WOOD: Taylor, Sanders, McCarthy, J Shaw, Grime, Heffer (Xavier 8mins), Simpson, Samuels, Sewell (P Shaw 67mins). Sub: (not used) Hatchett.

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