Home joy as depleted Market Rasen snatch unlikely late point
Despite a red card and a wealth of injury problems, a dramatic late equaliser from Theo Williams secured a valuable point for Market Rasen Town as they drew 1-1 with Nettleham Reserves on Saturday.
The 85th minute leveller ensured Rasen remain second in the Lincolnshire League Division One.
With players already out, an early red card, an outfield player forced to go in goal and more injuries, somehow Rasen managed a point and manager Ian Williams said: “We were magnificent to a man. Every single one of them showed outstanding attitudes and courage.
“It’s been a trying week with availability, and then the first 25 minutes is not something you can plan for.
“Fair play to Louis for donning the gloves when we lost Dale, and the lads that came on were great as well.
“Theo’s finish was just reward for his efforts. I’m his biggest critic at times, but the finish last week and then this is why he’s the league’s top goalscorer, and that’s credit to him.
“Credit to all the squad. They got a point they deserved for their effort and it kept us second.”
It was certainly a challenging afternoon for Rasen, who arrived with availability and injury problems.
Veteran goalkeeper Dale Christie made his first start of the season, while new signing Alex Miller was also included in the squad.
Liam Korynickyj returned from suspension and Louis Jones was back in contention.
Rasen were slow to settle and Nettleham enjoyed the better of the early exchanges.
Dale Christie was called upon to make an excellent save before disaster struck on 20 minutes when he was forced off through injury.
With no recognised goalkeeper available, Louis Jones bravely stepped into the gloves.
Things went from bad to worse five minutes later when Harvey Baxter was shown a red card following a challenge, leaving Rasen with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
Nettleham took advantage and opened the scoring on the half-hour mark with a speculative effort from outside the box which found its way past Jones.
Further disruption followed at half-time, with another enforced change seeing Lewis Davison replaced by Alex Miller.
Facing a huge second-half challenge, Rasen responded magnificently.
With three at the back, Ford, Skipworth and Graves were absolutely colossal, throwing themselves into the task of keeping a lively Nettleham attack at bay.
The visitors had opportunities to put the game beyond Rasen, but wasteful finishing, the crossbar and some determined defending kept the home side in contention.
Remarkably, Rasen began to create chances of their own.
Finn Drakes produced a lovely piece of skill to work an opportunity and force a good save, while Liam Korynickyj tested the Nettleham goalkeeper twice with dangerous free kicks.
Then, with just five minutes remaining, came the moment Rase Park had been waiting for.
After working tirelessly up front all afternoon, Theo Williams found the opportunity he deserved.
Turning onto his left foot, he struck a superb volley from just inside the area, giving the visiting goalkeeper absolutely no chance and sending the Rasen faithful into raptures.
And Rasen weren’t finished there.
Influential midfielder Archie Parry saw a dangerous effort from the edge of the box parried by the keeper, with Korynickyj agonisingly unable to get the rebound under control.
It would have been an incredible turnaround, but a point earned in such circumstances was thoroughly deserved.
The home fixtures keep coming on Saturday as Rasen welcome league newcomers Fishtoft, who will arrive looking to avenge the early-season defeat (2pm).