Keynsham Town 3-3 Wells City
Western League Div One
AJN Stadium
01/09/15
Keynsham Town came back from two goals behind for the second match in a row as they entertained Wells City at the AJN Stadium on Tuesday 1st September. Late goals from Kieran Adams and Joe Baker were enough earn the Ks a hard fought draw against fourth places Wells.
Wells could have been 2 goals up inside ten minutes as they started the game well. Ashley Wintle, in goal for Keynsham, couldn’t keep hold of a loose ball allowing Lee Pitman to take it around him but Matthew Martin was on hand to concede the corner. Moments later a rasping long shot rattled the K’s woodwork as Keynsham tried to get a foot hold in the game.
The early exchanges warranted a goal but it was Keynsham who found themselves 1-0 up after ten minutes. Ashley Bryan won the ball out on the right hand side and had the time and space to advance to the edge of the area. His fierce shot cannoned off a defenders leg and completely wrong footed Will Justin, the Wells City keeper, to give the K’s the advantage.
However this lead was short lived as Wells equalised on 17 minutes. Young full back Jack Bailey, making only his second ever start for Keynsham, misjudged a header allowing Pitman to control the ball on the right hand side. Pitman only needed two touches as his second touch was a well placed shot to get his team back on level terms.
The wood work rattled again two minutes later as Keynsham tried to get back on top. Ben Harris’ freekick found Martin’s head from a few yard out, but the on rushing center back could only direct his header onto the bar. The game opened up for the next few minutes with Jake Brown troubling the K’s defence and Sam Duggan forcing a decent save from Justin at the other end.
Chris King was forced into an early substitution on 32 minutes as his captain, Rob Sheriton, limped off with a recurring injury. Wells capitalised on a disjointed Keynsham midfield by adding a second goal on 36 minutes. Pitman gets the ball to the byline and produces a great cross for the arriving Brown to head home unchallenged at the far post; giving Wells the lead for the first time.
The score stayed 2-1 to Wells at the break and they soon added a third as the game restarted. Good work on the right hand side produced a defence splitting through ball for Ollie Bryant to latch on to and blast home on the 51st minute. Wells had the better of the possession for the next ten minutes reducing Keynsham to long balls.
Ben Harris was a constant threat to the Wells City back four on the break and carved out a real chance for Keynsham to get back into the game. On the 61st minute he rode the challenges of two Wells defenders to find Duggan in space in the box. However the K’s number 10 could on screw his first time shot over the bar.
The Keynsham bench made a double substitution to try and introduce more pace in the final third by bringing on teenagers Jordan Williams and Joe Baker; pushing Ben Harris up front. However it was still very much one way traffic in terms of possession and chances for Wells.
Mitch Purnell fired a 30 yard shot just wide with Wintle well beaten and Pitman saw his deflected shot fizz just wide in the next ten minutes. The game looked to be heading for a Wells away win, which would have seen them move into second place, with Keynsham only occasionally finding their fresh wide men.
King’s lads don’t give up games this season and on 86 minutes they pulled a goal back. Keynsham managed to win a corner on the right hand side and Duggan found the head of Kieran Adams to give them a glimmer of hope. Then the come back was complete in the 90th minute.
Wintle sent a long ball up field which was headed on and controlled by Ben Harris and passed out wide to Joe Baker inside the box. Baker stepped inside leaving his marker flat footed to place the ball past the on rushing Justin to rescue a point for his side on his first team debut.
Wells City will feel aggrieved that they couldn’t see out a game they had so much control over after being 3-1 up. Despite missing a few first team players their manager Mark Read will be looking for a response in their next game against Bishop Sutton on Saturday.
Chris King was really pleased with his lads character and desire to pick up another point and to keep their unbeaten home record intact. Keynsham have always been slow starters over the last few years but this season their young squad are hungry for success and are gaining experience with every game.
Keynsham – Ashley Wintle, Ashley Bryan, Jack Bailey, Jason Adams, Matthew Martin, Kieran Adams, Aaron Childs (65th min Jordan Williams), Rob Sheriton (32nd min Bertrand Abang), Tom Harris (65th min Joe Baker), Sam Duggan, Ben Harris
Subs not used – Tom Johnson, Dean Hooper
Wells City – Will Justin, Aaron Allen (84th min Jamie Price), Ollie Bryant, Mike Grist, Scott Saunders, Steve Sokol (79th min Ross Padfield), Mitch Purnell, James Batchelor, Leon Brittian, Lee Pitman, Jake Brown (79th min Paul Read)
Subs not used – Sam Gearish