Oakhill 0 Giffen Brazil 0

Barnet Sunday League Division 2

Second-placed Giffen rocked runaway leaders Oakhill on Sunday as they fought out a hard-earned draw.

Oakhill have grown accustomed to having things their own way at home but Giffen changed the script.

Needing a win to ensure promotion, Giffen signalled their intentions from the start with some flamboyant attacks inspired by Brian Stone and Dave Connolly.

The hard-working double act, Tom Fothergill and Frenchman Patrick Vance, up front posed continual problems for Oakhill in a hectic first half.

Giffen looked capable of dismantling Oakhill at will but too often a poor final pass denied them.

After the break, Oakhill showed why they lead the division as they tried desperately to snatch a goal.

Only a magnificent defensive rearguard action kept them at bay.

Rock solid Paul Martin and Dave Integlia were outstanding in the middle, while wing backs Steve Marsh and John Curtis thwarted the danger from the flanks.

Stand-in keeper Paul Lawrence dealt brilliantly with the corners that were swung into the area and acted as an impromptu sweeper when Oakhill resorted to an aerial bombardment in desperation.

Greg Gosling's tenacious tackling won the midfield battle for Giffen but with chances limited, this clash of the titans ended in stalemate. With Wilde, Green, Graves and Taylor all missing, Giffen can count this as a moral victory.

GIFFEN: Lawrence, Marsh, Martin, Integlia, Curtis, Murray, Stone, Gosling, Connolly, Vance, Fothergill. Subs (not used): Tory, Cooper.

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