Bristol Manor Farm were denied all three points as missed chances came back to haunt them in a frustrating draw against Didcot.
The Farm had been in good form recently and needed barely a minute to rattle the Didcot woodwork. Louis Britton nicked the ball past two defenders before sending a dipping effort at goal, which bounced off the foot of the post. Manor Farm kept pressing, and the chances continued to come. Evander Grubb and Josh Bissett combined well, with the latter forcing an acrobatic save from visiting goalkeeper Leigh Bedwell.
After 20 minutes, The Portwaymen had a succession of golden opportunities to take the lead. Britton was poised to head the ball, but a defender managed to nick it off him just in time. Although Abu Sama recycled possession well, Dan Dodimead could only sky his effort over the bar. Moments later, Dodimead found Britton, who weaved inside two challenges before forcing a sharp, point-blank save from Bedwell. Didcot offered little in the opening half-hour but created a significant chance late in the half. Luke Preen was sent through after some neat passing, but Mason Winter slid in superbly to make a crucial block.
The Farm continued to probe after the break and were finally rewarded just before the hour mark – and in some style. Winter stepped inside and found skipper Jay Adams, whose raking ball picked out Bissett. The winger burned past his marker before delivering an inch-perfect cross that Britton buried at the back post. Farm looked to be in control and had a massive opportunity to seal the win late on. Britton’s relentless pressing saw him dispossess both Bedwell and a defender, but Bissett could only fire over the bar when clean through on goal.
That miss proved costly, as Didcot equalised with seven minutes remaining through their first meaningful effort of the second half. Connor Barrett’s initial corner was cleared, but his follow-up cross was superbly delivered, and Preen glanced a header into the far corner.
Farm were then controversially denied two clear-looking penalties in the dying moments. Britton was punished for his honesty as he stayed on his feet despite having two hands around him in the box. Minutes later, Ben Bament was audibly clipped as he spun his marker in the area, but the appeals were waved away.