Nine-man Baffins Milton Rovers’ dramatic Wessex League draw with lowly Alresford ‘felt like a defeat'

Danny Thompson reflected on Baffins Milton Rovers' last-gasp effort to salvage a Wessex League Premier point against struggling Alresford but conceded: It still felt like a defeat.
Billy Connor netted Baffins' late leveller against Alresford. Picture: Chris MoorhouseBilly Connor netted Baffins' late leveller against Alresford. Picture: Chris Moorhouse
Billy Connor netted Baffins' late leveller against Alresford. Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Substitute Billy Connor fired home the rebound following Tommy Scutt's penalty miss in second-half stoppage-time to ensure Baffins secured a 2-2 draw at the PMC Stadium.

It was a dramatic finish to a game which saw both teams finish with nine men.

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However, Thompson - taking control while manager Shaun Wilkinson serves a three-month stadium ban - felt his side should have collected all three points.

Rovers' assistant manager bemoaned the lack of a 'ruthless' edge after Miles Everett had fired the hosts ahead with his third goal in two games four minutes after the restart.

Scutt and Blu Boam were both guilty of squandering 'glorious' chances before Alresford turned the game on its head thanks to goals from sub Sheldon Wright and Anime Fotso.

And even though Connor's last-gasp effort claimed a point, Thompson was still underwhelmed.

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‘It felt like a defeat at the end of the game,' he reflected.

When we went 1-0 up - and it’s been our problem this season - we’re just not ruthless enough in the final third and it’s costing us.

'You’re 1-0 up, you’re in total control with opportunities to kill the game off and you don't take it.

‘We end up getting a sucker-punch, conceding, and it gives them a lift and you’re on the back foot in a game you were on top in.

‘The game should have been out of sight.

‘To be honest we really should have put the game to bed.

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‘We had three glorious chances and we just didn’t take them.

‘The only positive you can take out of it is I suppose we did show a bit of character to dig in and grind out a draw.

‘For us as a management team, it did feel like a bit of a defeat.'

Everett's finish following a smart move brought the game to life on 49 minutes.

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Baffins were made to pay for missed chances, though, as Wright and Fotso netted in quick succession to put Alresford 2-1 ahead.

Thompson threw Connor on in the closing stages and his impact was crucial. He won the late penalty and was on hand to fire home after Scutt's spot-kick had been saved by Myles Bowan.

Baffins had defender Josh Warren sent off and Jamie White sin-binned following a melee after the penalty award.

Alresford - who had lost 3-0 at home to Baffins in September - also ended with nine players after Kay Conteh was shown a straight red for his part in the melee and Jacob Brown a second yellow.

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Thompson did not get a clear view of the incident that erupted late on.

‘It was right over the far side and I didn’t really know what was going on. It was handbags more than anything,' he added.

‘There was just a little bit of a melee and pushing and shoving.

‘It just got a little bit out of hand, it got a bit silly.

‘Unfortunately, Josh got a red card and we’re going to lose him for three games, which isn’t ideal, but it is what it is.'

Thompson gave Moneyfields pair Rhys Lloyd and Danny Burroughs their debuts - the latter as a sub.