ENDSLEIGH were given what should have been a massive psychological boost when, prior to the game, Bull Hotel handed the match referee a team sheet containing only nine players.

But a determined performance from the opposition plus an appalling catalogue of squandered first half chances from an inept Endsleigh striking force, ensured this game wasn't decided until the 89th minute!

Even when Damian Wilson grabbed Endsleigh's opening goal in the 64th minute, Bull refused to lie down and, only the post and some inspired goalkeeping from Simon Payne, denied them a well-earned equaliser and ensured the game hung in the balance until the final minutes.

The first serious attempt on goal came from Bull's Simon Plant, when his 25 yard shot flew wide of the target after five minutes.

But from there on in, Endsleigh, appreciating their two-man advantage, pushed forward in numbers.

Bull's inability to pick up attacking wing back Alan Kennedy allowed the Endsleigh player the luxury of a 45-yard run from his own half unchallenged and a powerful low drive from inside the penalty area had to be pushed away for a corner by Tommy Slater.

From the resulting corner, Lee Roberts rose to head a foot over the bar.

Sadly the number of times the Endsleigh forward line fell victim to a cleverly sprung off-side trap, matched the embarrassing total of wasted scoring opportunities that materialised with starling regularity.

Before the first half draw to a close, Roberts, Wilson and Simpson had all missed sitters from alarmingly close range. After the break both sides got bogged down in negative spoiling tactics, each devoid of any memorable attacking move, until Wilson relieved the agony and steered a Roberts'' cross past the stranded Slater into the bottom right hand corner.

The goal ignited the game and Bull almost equalised when Brendan Park thundered in a header from Tommy Fallows free kick, only to see Payne brilliantly turn the ball over the bar.

Park thought he'd scored when later he beat Payne to a through ball inside the box and his shot hit the post.

With Bull committed to chasing the game, gaps were inevitably left at the back and in the 89th minute Wilson broke clear in midfield with the goals in his sights.

Only a clumsy chasing tackle prevented him grabbing his second goal of the game, but he was delayed only momentarily. Opting to take the awarded penalty kick himself, he gave Slater no chance with a rising shot into the roof of the net.

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