FOOTBALL: IT WAS case of what might have been for Highgate United on Tuesday after they wasted a series of chances away at Shepshed Dynamo and were made to settle for a 1-1 draw in the Midland Premier Division.
Manager Ashley Pulisciano’s side enjoyed the majority of possession after taking an early lead through Lei Brown, but after conceding on the stroke of half-time, the visitors failed to put away numerous second half chances.
With Dale Edwards and Isaac Jagroop out injured, Nathan Pulisciano on holiday and Scott Turner starting a three match ban, the Highgate squad was down to its bare bones.
Nathan Walker made a full start in central midfield with Trevor Edwards and McCauley Manning playing wide in front of James Loney, while Joe Cole and Orrin Pendley slotted in at the back.
Home custodian Laurie Pearson had made a couple of early saves from Brown and Trevor Edwards but could do little to prevent Brown scoring a spectacular goal with just seven minutes on the clock.
Walker’s quickly taken free kick was nodded on by Edwards, Marco Adaggio dinked in a neat cross and Brown connected with a bicycle kick into the top left-hand corner of Pearson’s goal.
It was a perfect start for the visitors who went close again through Edwards and even closer to doubling their lead when Pearson saved well from Manning with Chris Johnson narrowly off target from a follow up shot.
Manning was marginally off target from 20 yards before Adaggio worked hard to create a chance which he drilled wide and Edwards stung Pearson’s fingers from distance.
But with the visitors well on top they were to find themselves pegged back to level terms when seconds before the break Lee Miveld fired in at the far post off Jake Woolley’s left wing cross.
The second half followed in a similar pattern with Gate in charge but they were still unable to find that elusive second breakthrough.
They came closest when Brown found his way through but he was unable to find a way past Pearson as the two locked eyes.
Adaggio dragged a further late opportunity beyond the upright as the game petered out for what was from Gate’s perspective a disappointing draw.
The draw takes Gate’s unbeaten run to three games but with a clutch of sides remaining within three or four points of the relegation zone, it leaves very little room for error as Pulisciano’s 16th placed team travel to Tividale on Saturday.
