FOOTBALL: Horncastle Town share the points with near rivals Rasen

Market Rasen Town 1

Horncastle Town 1

Horncastle Town missed a golden opportunity to net three points when they made the short journey to Rase Park.

The local derby had a bit of everything, including two penalties and a red card. And Horncastle will probably feel they should have gone on to bag all three points after playing the final 20 minutes with a one-man advantage.

In the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils after home keeper Will Bradford saved Richard Jackson’s spot kick.

Having drawn level after conceding from the penalty spot, the Wongers were awarded a penalty of their own in the 71st minute.

But Rasen keeper Bradford dived to his left to push away Jackson’s spot kick.

Despite this setback, the impetus was with the visitors after Rasen had been reduced to 10 men during the aftermath of the disputed penalty.

Home defender Aaron Ford received a second yellow card and was dismissed by referee Mark Webster.

But Horncastle failed to make the extra man count.

In a last ditch attempt to edge out their defiant opponents, they pushed ex-Rasen man Scott Lowman forward, but the home side held on to share the spoils.

It was goalless at half time after a dearth of goalmouth action. Horncastle keeper William Wood didn’t have a save to make during the first period and Bradford was called into action just the once, producing a smart save to his left to deny Luke Blondel.

After the break, the game was much more open but, until Mr Webster pointed to the spot, neither side had looked capable of breaching their opponents’ defences.

Market Rasen finally broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after 65 minutes. A Horncastle defender was adjudged to have handled and Joe Osbourne stroked the ball home from 12 yards.

The lead lasted just four minutes when Horncastle equalised through Ben Fidling.

And a minute later they had a golden opportunity to grab the initiative with another penalty. Jackson appeared to be tripped as he attempted to get in behind the home defence. Aaron Ford disputed referee Mark Webster’s view of the incident, which earned him a second yellow card and an early bath.

But the drama continued, with Bradford pulling off a smart save to push the penalty kick away.

Horncastle doubled their efforts to make the extra man count. Legs tired on the heavy surface and more chances presented themselves late on, but a draw was perhaps a fair reflection of the play.