WITHAM TOWN 1 HARINGEY BOROUGH 2

Ryman League division north

NOT for the first time this year, a last-gasp goal saw Witham Town denied points in Ryman League division north.

This time it was Haringey Borough who inflicted late woe on Witham as they scored in time added on at the end of their visit to the Village Glass Stadium to snatch victory with a 2-1 win.

It was a frustratingly familiar story for the hosts and their fans as they saw another game that they could have got something from end pointless.

Following a fairly equal opening spell, the visitors began to get on top in the first half.

Haringey started to pressure their hosts and that resulted in a 23rd minute goal from one of a number of corners that they forced.

The ball was turned in by Anthony McDonald for the opener and they looked comfortable with their lead, but Witham slowly got back into it.

In the 35th minute, a free-kick from Nathan Koranteng was well held by Harry Palmer in the Borough goal.

It sparked a better spell from Witham and the same combination of players was involved soon after as well as Koranteng drilled in a curling effort after the ball came out to him from a corner.

Palmer was up to the task again, but the home side saw more of the ball and territorial advantage as the clock ticked down to half-time.

And they were rewarded with an equalising goal in the 45th minute.

A handball in the area saw referee Andy Loe point to the penalty spot and, with Haringey protetsting against the spot-kick award, Koranteng stepped forward and rammed the ball into the bottom corner to make it level at the break. Things remained pretty even after the restart, although Tom Robinson was almost in on goal and it took a last-ditch challenge to deny him what would have been a clear shooting chance.

Clear-cut chances remained at a premium, but Haringey striker Christopher Benjamin may have expected to have done better after springing the Witham offside trap in the 67th minute.

He raced clear and with Town keeper Reece Paine having come off his line to challenge, the Borough man lofted the ball over him but also over the crossbar.

Witham went close at the other end as the ball was played in to substitute Tim Monsheju in the area, but he was unable to make full contact and his under-hit shot was easily cleared by the covering defenders.

There was a frantic finish as both teams went looking for the win and Witham had several chances.

However, it was the visitors who were celebrating at the final whistle as they snatched a winner deep into time added on at the end as Benjamin atoned for his earlier miss by scoring a last-gasp goal to take all three points.

Witham Town: Reece Paine, Alex Anderson, Luke Mallett, John Watson, Lance Akins, Damien Green, Nathan Koranteng, Michael Osei, Tom Robinson (Chi Osadebe 72), Ryan Imbert (Tim Monsheju 64), Ryan Charles (Max Bradford 73).

Subes not used: Pat Ahern, Tyler Hayes.

Referee: Andy Loe.