HIGHGATE United came away with a respectable 0-0 draw away to third-placed Westfields at the weekend, with both sides feeling unlucky not to claim all three points in the MFL Premier Division encounter.
The stalemate in Hereford was packed full of chances at either end, but the two teams lacked the clinical edge to win the contest in difficult weather conditions.
With manager Ashley Pulisciano absent, assistant coaches Lee Adams and Scott Rickards took charge for the away trip, a match which left Adams in particular feeling proud of the performance.
“I couldn’t have asked for more from my players under difficult conditions, and although we didn’t start that well, we adapted and grew into a game which by the end I felt we should have gathered all three points.
“Every one of them made an important contribution, Sam Oji and Duane Courtney were magnificent at the back, and Trevor Edwards closely marked playmaker Craig Jones out of the game.
“The only slight negative was that we weren’t sharp enough up front and certainly missed leading scorer Lei Brown – who I felt would have revelled in the wind and rain”.
Marco Adaggio came in for Brown, partnering Stefan Moore in attack, whilst Brad Catlow returned between the posts following injury.
The hosts went close with a couple of early chances, Alex Hainault glanced a header wide, whilst Sam Rawlins fired a shot past the post.
Shortly after, Moore grazed Westfields keeper Kieron Blackburn’s post with an effort, followed by two volleys from Edwards that were cleared off the line.
Courtney threatened at corner kicks for Highgate towards the end of the first-half but couldn’t find the net.
Down the other end, Catlow’s first intervention of the game came after the break, when tipping away a free-kick from Jones.
He then denied Sam Plane, before Aidan Thomas’ shot that crashed against the woodwork and the rebound put wide by Keanu Cooke.
The visitors were most likely to score late on, with Jordan Goddard missing a key opening from six yards, but will be pleased with the overall performance and gratefully take the point.
Gate host Sporting Khalsa in their final game of the season at The Coppice (3pm), a side who sit fourth in the division but lost the reverse fixture 2-0 back in August.
Meanwhile, it has been announced that the Worcestershire FA Senior Urn final against Worcester City will take place at Evesham United’s ground on Thursday April 11 (7:45pm).
Elsewhere, Highgate under-21’s were edged 4-3 by Allexton and New Parks, despite taking a 3-0 half-time lead through Praise Anyanegbu’s brace, and a goal from George Robbins.
A red card for goalkeeper Dan Farr proved to be the the turning point, as the visitors struck four times in the second-half to turn the scoreline around.
