National League South: Cheshunt 0-0 Taunton Town

WRITING this report may be an ordeal, much as it was watching the Peacocks’ first ever visit to Theobalds Lane, writes Andy Power.

The positive is that Town secured another point on the road at a ground where runaway leaders Ebbsfleet have come unstuck this season and although the full three points were within reach, the visitors could not pierce a robust Ambers’ defence and one could argue a draw was the most either side deserved from a really ugly affair.

Jack Bycroft returned between the sticks for the Peacocks but Dan Ball was ill, meaning a reshuffle from the midweek defeat to Hampton.

And Town made a bright enough start, with Ollie Chamberlain and Dave Sims-Burgess linking up well, before the hosts settled and posted the first effort when Emmanuel Maja fired over.

Lee Lucas then blocked a shot from Alfie Cue while Cue’s long throw into the box deflected onto the roof of the net before Town won their first corner on the quarter hour which ended with the referee’s whistle after an infringement.

Sims-Burgess was again trying to make things happen but had little change out of both the imposing Cheshunt back line and the poor uneven playing surface.

A forward run from Ambers’ centre half Taylor McKenzie set up Maja who fired woefully wide, ending 45 minutes of erosion with defences very much on top.

The dial on the entertainmentometer remained unmoved for the second half which got off to a feisty start when Isaac Pitblado was cautioned for a poor challenge on Chamberlain, setting off some unpleasantries between the benches.

Some of the decisions made by the officials were also raising blood pressures, a blatant push on Sims-Burgess on the right obviously deemed legal being an example.

Although clear chances were rare, the momentum of the game was swinging in Town’s favour but they were unable to force home keeper Adam Desbois into a save.

Stearn blasted over the bar from a Nat Jarvis pass while Jarvis himself screwed badly wide after Jay Foulston had made a weaving run into the Cheshunt box.

Cheshunt won their first corner after 79 minutes which was cleared before the visitors enjoyed much the better of the latter stages without finding the elusive final touch.

Good work from Chamberlain saw his cross laid back for Foulston to Wannell for him to try his luck with a ground shot held by Desbois. Nick McCootie who had replaced Jarvis earlier also squeezed an effort to the Ambers’ keeper before some late pressure failed to break the stalemate.

Sims-Burgess and Foulston had successive shots blocked while two late corners raised hopes among the Peacocks’ faithful, the second of which saw Wannell’s header held safely by Desbois, the last piece of goalmouth activity from 95 minutes of grimness.

A welcome clean sheet for Town and with a bit more cutting edge and luck up the other end they might have snuck it. No time to dwell on this one though as the Peacocks regroup for 15 more battles in the next seven weeks.