A point gained but MVP deserved more...

FOREST HILL PARK 1-1 MERIDIAN VP
SCEFl Division One
Wednesday 2nd October

Meridian went into this game with mixed form starting the season with seven points from their first six games.

The first chance fell to Meridian however, with a well worked corner half-volleyed over from the edge of the box by Adrian Spence. Forest Hill also had a good chance before Meridian hit straight back in this end to end contest with a deep cross from Les Juch missed by goalkeeper Matt Bailey, allowing Toyeeb Babatunde a header which went narrowly over the bar.

Ben Ashton made a good save to deny Shaveize Williams but minutes later Joe Plant curled a corner towards Williams who dummied and the ball bounced into the roof of the Meridian net for a 1-0 lead.

Trey Small nearly restored parity but he snatched at the ball and blazed over. Meridian were then denied a goal when Bailey made a great double save. Leslie Juch saw his rasping shot hit the bar before the last chance of the half fell to Small who collected a poor clearance but his shot was a whisker off target.

The second period started the same as the previous one had ended with Meridian looking dangerous when attacking. At the other end Ashton denied a great Williams shot by getting a strong hand to the ball to push it round the post. Ashton was again called into play when he pushed Phillipe Sturgeon’s freekick onto the bar.

Forest Hill were made to rue missed opportunities when . Bailey failed to reach a cross and the ball was missed by two oncoming MVP attackers before Jacob Skelly volleyed in the equaliser.

A Meridian winner almost came just minutes later, when a speculative volley from Small was diverted goalwards by Skelly but the ball trickled just wide. The final chance to win the game fell Meridian’s way when just before the final whistle when a miscued clearance fell to Skelly but Bailey saved with his legs.