Spelthorne Sports 2, Badshot Lea 2

The storms that have dogged football in recent weeks my finally have abated, but there was certainly no shortage of stormy action as Badshot Lea picked up a useful point at Spelthorne Sports on Tuesday night.

With Lea trailing 2-0, the game turned on a mindless red card for Spelthorne left winger Vitor Monteiro who was given his marching orders five minutes before half time for headbutting Baggies right back Darren Blake.

Lea boss Gavin Smith admitted that Badshot Lea defender Josh Pound was perhaps a little fortunate not to see red too in the melee that followed – before his charges stormed back to grab a share of the spoils at Ashford Common.

And it could have been even better for the visitors.

“I’m disappointed that we didn’t win in the end,” said Smith, “but also disappointed with the way that we started the game. We gave them two goals and you can’t afford to do that.

“But we missed so many chances, we should have won in the end.”

Lea made the worst possible start as Chris Martin Thomas’ ball in from the right was deflected into his own net by Baggies defender Moses Rock after just two minutes.

And things went from bad to worse when Joe Dyett headed home a corner to double highflying Spelthorne’s lead ten minutes before the break.

But then came Monteiro’s rush of blood and with it came a rush of chances for Lea as they pegged Spelthorne back into their own half.

And their persistence paid off as a ball in behind the defence found the impressive Nick Medcraft whose low ball into the box was smashed home by former Ascot United front man Usman Lalustani.

Lea continued to probe despite Spelthorne playing with eight men behind the ball and they finally forced a deserved equaliser when Medcraft was again the provider and Lionel Masudi applied the finish at the back post.

But Spelthorne, who moved to within five points of leaders Ascot, weren’t quite finished there and forced a smart save from Baggies keeper Kallum Lunn at the death.

“From watching the second half I can see that we have got some really good players, but we’ve got so much to learn,” said Smith, whose side head north to face Molesey on Saturday.

“We try to force it a bit sometimes. It’s the frustrations of having a young squad, but it’s what we want because we were so much fitter than Spelthorne.

“It’s a work in progress. The more they play together, the better they will get, and with a bit of guidance, which hopefully we can give them, we’ll get better and better.”

And he added: “It was enjoyable and that’s the good thing at the minute. It’s nice to go out and watch them play and learn and not put lots of expectations on them to win.

“We obviously want to win but it’s more about creating something at the minute.

“It’s great because they are all willing to learn.”