Derby ends all square

We played out a 1-1 draw with neighbours Goytre United with both sides reduced to 10 men in the first half. Referee Gavin Townsend issued 2 yellows and 2 reds inside the first 26 minutes of what is traditionally not a feisty derby.

Lido were without Kaid Mohamed and Jack Hurley to add to the injured Sacha Walters and suspended Lewis Holmes. Steve Morris and Jamie Karnsang started.

Lido went behind on 9 minutes following a corner, it was played to the 6 yard line, Steve Cann stood rooted to the spot, no-one went with Adam Robbins allowing him a free run and he planted a firm header into the net. We struggled to get into the game which was littered with free kicks until we won a corner on 21 minutes which Sean Hanbury headed wide. Brad Flay tried a snap shot which went just over the bar but there were now signs we were getting into the game. On 26 minutes a Goytre attack saw Alex Gammond pick up his second yellow and our one man advantage had gone. Morgan Freeman had to replace the injured Patrick Finneral on 36 minutes. On 38 minutes Josh Jones was played in but Steve Cann made a fine block to deny the visitors a second goal. Brad Flay then cleared a Keane Watts shot from a corner as the visitors pursued a second goal before the interval. Despite those chances it was Lido who scored in added on time in the first half. Noah Daley equalised with a left footed shot after Luke Probert failed to hold a cross.

On 51 minutes a misplaced Liam McCreesh pass set up Josh Jones on a run to goal but with only Steve Cann to beat he shot over the bar. Again, the half was littered with free kicks but as the half progressed, we started to find some momentum and Sean Hanbury shot over the bar from just inside the area with 13 minutes to go. In the final stages however we were struggling to clear our lines, Goytre picked up virtually every clearance and immediately put us back under pressure but we held out for a share of the spoils thanks to a  post coming to our aid with 2 minutes to go as a shot beat Cann but hits the far upright.