Andrew Cooling 

Clarence and Kingborough played out a 1-1 draw in a dour game at Wentworth Park on Saturday evening. Kingborough had the lions share of the ball but struggled to convert it into clear cut chances as Clarence sat back and frustrated the visitors for long periods. After Clarence took a first half lead through Paul Bremner the Lions eventually leveled through Chris Downes but neither side could find a winner in a game of few real chances.

The first chance of the game fell to Tom Mcdonald on 8 minutes who was set up by some lovely play in wide areas by Jack Gates, but he blazed over the bar with his half volley from close range. That would be Gates only meaningful contribution as he was subbed out with a hamstring injury shortly after.

Shane Cartwright then looked odds to score when played through on goal but as he raced towards the keeper he couldn’t bring the ball under his spell and it was cleared away.

They were made to rue that miss when Paul Bremner got on the end of a mistimed shot in the box, controlling and finishing into the bottom corner to give Clarence the lead with their first real chance of the game.

That would be how the two teams went into half time in a game that devoid of chances and mired in midfield for the most part, with the Lions enjoying more of the ball but not doing much with it.

The first 15 minutes of the second half played out in much the same manner as the first before the Lions began to really control the game and start to forge some chances.

Chris Downes stung the palms of Dyson with a curling left footed effort which the Clarence keeper did well to parry over the bar and Cartwright was starting threaten to take over the game as he did the last time the two sides met, his influence growing with each passing minute.

Finally the pressure paid off and with 25 minutes to go the Lions drew level. In another scrappy goal that was reflective of the contest, Chris Downes got the final touch as he dispatched a ball that fell into his path past Dyson and into the back of the net.

The goal seemed to wake Clarence up and they were desperately unlucky not to have a penalty a minute later when Jarrod Bugg tore into the box and seemed to be clipped from behind as he charged in on goal but the referee waved play on.

Both sides pushed for the winner but neither came close as both defences dealt with what was thrown their way in the final 20 minutes with relative comfort.

The full time whislte blew and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, neither side were particularly pleased yet it was probably a fair result as neither of them really did enough to win a game that won’t live long in the memory for either side.