Bovingdon 3 Sun Postal Sports 3              Herts County League     Prem                      2002/03

Fryer tucks in but Sun undimmed

The top of the table clash between Bovingdon and Sun Postal lived up to its billing as the two title challengers fought out an enthralling six goal thriller at Green Lane.
In an epic encounter, Paul Hobb's Bovingdon side led three times only to be pegged back on each occasion by a resourceful Sun outfit who deserved at least a share of the spoils.
"I was disappointed that we didn't come away with three points after leading three times," said Hobbs, who pointed the finget of blame at his defence.
"We should be good enough and experienced enough to be able to deal with the ball when it comes in the box but we didn't."
Bovingdon, with Lee Johnson making his debut, typically came out flying out of the traps and their approach paid off just five minutes when Craig McMahon rose highest to flick a header into the path of Marc Fryer, who poked the ball past the errant Richard Traxon into the empty net from 12 yards.
An injury to mark Swailes forced a reshuffle in the Bovingdon ranks and they suffered another set back on ten minutes when Sun hit back with an equaliser.
A long throw from Mark Congalton was flicked on by Robert Coldrake and Dave Samson rose to bod the ball into the far corner.
The match, played at a frenetic pace in the first period, settled down in the second half as Sun began to exert control, and they should have been ahead by the time Fryer scored his second of the match with ten minutes remaining.
The in form striker collected a pass after good work from Adie Corcoran and Dan Duran and fired low past Traxon for his ninth of the season to spark a rousing finish.
Sun, prompted by the outstanding Paul Haynes, responded within five minutes when Coldrake, atoning for a missed headed chance he normally thrives on, levelling things up with a crisp finish from 12 yards that nestled into the bottom corner.
Three minutes later, Steve Stratford, in his first appearance of the season, looked to have sealed all three points for his side when he latched on to a raking pass from Duran to fire home from eight yards.
Sun, however, refused to lie down and grabbed a dramatic point with a sensational equaliser in the dying seconds.
George Woodward, on as a substitute, burst down the right flank and teed up a superb cross for Jay Greenaway to rise between two defenders at the far post and thump home a glorious header.
"On the basis of our second half performance I thought we deserved to win  the match, but the character my team showed was outstanding," said Terry Hows, the Sun manager, who is in the enviable position of sitting in second place with a game in hand on leaders Oxhey Jets, who they meet tomorrow (Saturday) and still without heavyweight performers such as Andy Hopping, Ben Cowen, Chris Eldridge, Chris Shannon, Andy Wood and Darren Seabrook.