Combined Counties League Premier

North Greenford 0

Banstead Athletic 0

Banstead followed two defeats by taking a well-earned point at leaders North Greenford last Saturday.

That was largely thanks to a man of the match performance by keeper Mark Rouse, deputising for the injured Paul Brady, while the hosts had two players sent off and Banstead only one.

Rouse's balling of instructions to the team kept them on their toes, his distribution of the ball was good.

Ross White put a good early chance wide before Banstead had to make a substitution on 12 minutes when Alistair John had to go off, Shane Sinclair coming on.

Dean Sammut went close after a neat team build-up and United also had chances, but Banstead's defensive performance was much stronger than of late.

The visitors' determination to get at least a point was evident late on as United surged forward.

On 35 minutes Sol Patterson-Bohner of Banstead and Luc Kenny were shown straight red cards for an altercation on the pitch near the dugouts.

Three minutes later the A's Leon Wallace crossed and the home keeper palmed the ball away.

In the second half, the A's came out again strongly, but United had two corners and both times Rouse managed to save well.

A third red was shown on 49 minutes when the referee thought White had been pulled back by Jack Lisi as the last defender.

Banstead found more room against nine men, who seemed to panic at times.

On the long-ball break, United forced Rouse into a full-stretch save to push the ball round the post.

The A's substituted Wallace for Stephan Martin on 81 minutes.

There was a close call for Banstead when a free-kick just went over their bar and the last few minutes was frantic with the hosts pushing for the winner.

Right on full-time Gavin Quintin did lob the ball from just in United's half goalwards and the keeper was just able to push it away.

This was a more unified performance from Banstead, a point at the division's top side being an excellent result.

Banstead: Rouse, Patterson, Hawkins, Sammut, Davidson, Hughes, John, Quintin, Wallace, Patterson-Bohner, White. subs used: Sinclair, Siefers, Martin. not used: Brady, Barnes.