Champions held in another thriller
FOR the second time in a week champions St Martin’s dropped points, but this time it was they who hit back to draw 3-3.
Manzur threatened a major shock at the Track last night when they led 3-1 early in the second half.
But the challenge of having to play for almost an hour with 10 men after the dismissal of full back Ben Youlton eventually caught up with Mark Romeril’s side.
Theirs was a brave rearguard action in the second half and they will probably feel happy with a point, having let slip a similar advantage on the same ground against Bels three days earlier.
There was a notion pre-season that Manzur would pile in their GFC players in midweek games, but that has not turned out to be the case.
The appearance last night of Liam Mahon was very much down to starting a three-match suspension at Isthmian league level, but other than a rare local league start the midfielder it was normal service for Mark Romeril’s side, although he would not have wanted to have to play frontman John Hunt at left back.
Mahon and Manzur main man Craig Young would have been pleased to see Simon Geall missing from the defending champions’ midfield line-up, not to mention Ben Coulter and Dom Heaume up front.
Louis Hunter fired Saints ahead early on when they were fairly rampant but Louis Travis levelled and Craig Young put the home side ahead from the spot.
Gareth Holden made it 3-1 straight after the break before goals by Hunter, again, and sub Lucas Meza, levelled things with 23min. left.
It was then all hands to the pump for Manzur but deservedly they held on.
