Published: Tuesday, 14th October, 2008 7:50pm

Bracknell forced to settle for a point

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Bracknell 1 Andover 1

Bracknell Town drew 1-1 at home to Andover on Saturday.

Nathan Jack fired the Robins into a 28th minute lead but Andover tied things up after the break from the penalty spot.

Michael Buck was sent off for bringing down Ashley Jarvis as he latched onto goalkeeper's Dave Hook's long clearance and Kyle Swayne fired home the spot-kick.

The Robins were denied strong claims of their own late on when Jack appeared to be brought down by Owen Elias but the appeals were waved aside and the sides had to settle for a point apiece.

Speaking after the game, Bracknell boss Byron Walton said: "That's the best team performance we've produced in quite a while.

"We had enough chances to kill it off in the first half but then the penalty obviously gave them a lifeline in the game.

"It was 50/50 for the penalty. Michael said he was getting pulled before he started to pull back so it was just of those decisions that sometimes go for you and sometimes go against you.

"But we worked hard with 10 men and it should have been a penalty at the other end.

"I thought it was a penalty as you could tell by the way moved that he got the man first. People who were a lot closer than me said it was a definite foul.

"But we're still unbeaten at home and if we keep that level of performance up then we'll win more than we'll lose. We're a young side and we never stop working."

1-1. It's all over at Larges Lane and it ends all square. The referee isn't the most popular man in Bracknell at the moment. One penalty given, a penalty denied and Jack thwarted in the opening period by the referee's half-time whistle as he burst clean through.

Andover had a great late chance to win it after working Jarvis into some space. But he clips his effort just wide and the chance is gone.

Andover's winless run now stretches to six games but they had a great to end their sequence today.

Andover had plenty of possession in the second half but Bracknell were always dangerous on the break through Telemaque and Jack.

Bracknell denied a strong penalty shout. Jack charges down Owen Elias's attempted clearance and bursts clear. Elias gets back at him and appears to bring him down. Appeals waved aside. Byron Walton and the Bracknell bench incensed. Looked a good shout from here, although Jack did appear to charge down the initial clearance from Elias with his hands.

Bracknell still dangerous on the break. Telemaque gets free and cuts the ball back for substitute Walsh. He mis-hits his first time shot and the ball is cleared off the line. Great chance to make an instant impact.

Sub for Bracknell: Luke Walsh on for Ian Harvey who picked up a knock after slotting in at right-back.

Jarvis put through with a couple of defenders in close attendance. Gets his shot away but scuffs it well wide. Poor effort. Andover on top now against the 10-man Robins.

Kyle Swayne heads over from substitute's Brynley McKie's cross.

GOAL! 1-1.

PENALTY for Andover. Robins defender Michael Buck sent off. Big punt downfield from Hook. Buck and Jarvis battle for it. Referee adjudges Buck was pulling Jarvis back as he attempted to shoot. Buck gets an early bath as he was the last man and Kyle Swayne fires home the penalty off the underside of the bar. It's all level. Looked like both players were grabbing each other. Some you get, some you don't.

Sub for Bracknell: Adam Kennedy for McIntosh. Luke Dexter slotting into central defence for Bracknell.

Jack just half yard too slow to convert McIntosh's cross and Andover concede the corner.

55mins. Sub for Andover: Owen Elias on for Paul Jones, who limped out of a challenge with Brad Edmunds and couldn't continue after lengthy treatment.

Players back out for second half.

Half-time. Bracknell 1 Andover 0. We'll be back in the second half.

Oh referee. Ian Harvey puts Nathan Jack clean through. As he runs clear, the ref blows for half-time!! He slams it home anyway. Bracknell not happy. Shades of Clive Thomas in the World Cup there. Still, Robins lead at the break, although Andover came back into it well after a slow start.

The goal seems to have sparked Andover into life. Having not had a kick in the first half hour and been second best, they finish the half strongly. They force a few corners and it takes a good interception from Brad Edmunds to deny Jarvis again.

3.37pm. Andover force a corner and that's the first attacking position they've had. Suddenly out of nothing they almost equalise. Neat interchange between Kyle Swayne and Ashley Jarvis on the edge of the box. Jarvis fires it goalwards but it just curls wide of the far post. Great chance and Jarvis holds his head in his hands. Andover finally making an impression.

3.28pm GOAL! Nathan Jack finally makes the pressure count for the Robins. Telemaque finds him in space and he fires home low into the corner of the net from 20 yards. After all Hook's early heroics he really should have done better with that. Decent shot but he should have that covered.

3.25pm. Telemaque brought down right on the edge of the box. Ryan McIntosh fizzes in a superb low drive but Hook is equal to it with a great save to tip the ball around the post.

3.19pm. Best chance of the game. Telemaque gets clean away down the left and cuts the ball back. Joel Havermans hits it first time from 10 yards out but the ball flies over off an Andover defender. Great opening.

3.15pmBracknell continue to dominate. Great cross-field pass from Leon Woodruffe picks out Ian Harvey. Good first touch but his shot is well held by Hook.

3.02pm. Bright start from Bracknell. Errol Telemaque fires one shot just over the top. Ben Edwards then forces a good low save from David Hook in the Andover goal with a drive from outside the box. The Robins keep the pressure on and force another corner. Michael Buck arrives unmarked but doesn't make a clean contact and the ball squirts just wide. Bracknell certainly bossing the early stages.

And we're ready for kick-off.

2.45pm. Here's how the teams line-up this afternoon:

Bracknell: 1 Max Aneke, 2 Luke Dexter, 3 Leon Woodruffe, 4 Brad Edmunds, 5 Michael Buck, 6 Joel Havermans, 7 Ian Harvey, 8 Ben Edwards, 9 Nathan Jack, 10 Errol Telemaque, 11 Ryan McIntosh. Subs: Adam Kennedy, Mike Watson, Luke Walsh.

Andover: 1 David Hook, 2 Gary Connolly, 3 Rory Williams, 4 Paul Jones, 5 Matt Jones, 6 Jamie Barrow, 7 Dean Stow, 8 Alex Ward, 9 Kyle Swayne, 10 Ashley Jarvis, 11 Mike Turvey. Subs: Steve Boston, Steve May, Bobby Swayne, Owen Elias, Brynley McKie.

Referee: Eric Mackrell