HASLEMERE 1, LONDON ACADEMICALS 1

ALEX Messenger scored a late equaliser to preserve Haslemere’s seven-point lead and deny nearest rivals London Academicals a significant victory at Woolmer Hill.

Haslemere enjoyed more than 70 per cent of possession in the Hants/Surrey 2 top-of-the-table clash, but the Academicals defended with their lives and almost stole the points.

The in-form Blues – beaten only once this season – were well and truly frustrated in a goalless first half and it was the Londoners who broke the deadlock after the break.

Haslemere were caught out by a quick breakaway and although Nick Short made a superb first save, he couldn’t do anything about the second effort. This was Academicals’ first and only serious attempt on goal.

The visitors looked set for an unlikely win, but they backed off after scoring and invited pressure, surviving thunderous attempts by Mitch Chapman, Elliott Hall and Graham Stopher.

Haslemere continued to control the game, with the strong back line of Rob Dilworth, Barney Green, Chris Fox and Rob Grech transferring the ball quite beautifully at times to keep their opponents at full stretch.

Time and time again, Haslemere were halted by strong tackling in the final quarter and when Grech missed perhaps the best chance, it seemed that they were going to have one of those days.

Yet, for the second home game running, they rescued a point late on. Chapman supplied a terrific pass and Messenger rounded the keeper to score into an empty goal.

An entertaining match, but the draw will feel like a defeat to Haslemere after their almost total dominance.

They have four matches remaining to wrap up the league, and with games in hand over all their rivals, the championship is theirs to lose.

Coach Gary Boucher said: “I’m happy with the performance. We dominated play and worked the channels well. We just need to be working the baseline a little better.

“It’s another point closer to the title and automatic promotion and we’ve prevented our biggest rivals closing the gap. They are not an easy team to beat.”

Haslemere entertain another promotion-chasing side, Sunbury & Walton Hawks, this Saturday (2pm).