Ten-man Potton United hold league leaders to 1-1 draw

Potton started the brightest of the two sides and Cole Butler had a good chance in the third minute, latching onto the end of a looping ball but his shot was blocked by a defender.

A long throw in from Louis Octave was then flicked on by Danny Baulk and Butler saw his shot blocked by the keeper’s legs.

The first chance for Crawley Green came in the 18th minute when a long free-kick was flicked on and Joe Grossi fired over from 20 yards.

Back at the other end Danny Baulk fired over with a long range shot and Potton continued to put pressure on the home defence. Keeper Craig Foxall had been a spectator for much of the half but was called into action when Joshua Adeyilexa made a driving run, cut in and Foxall parried his shot.

Potton took a deserved lead in the 42nd minute when an inch perfect cross field ball from Butler found Baulk who cut in and fired across the keeper inside the far post.

Baulk and Butler worked well just before the whistle but Butler headed into the ground and Dan Gould in the Crawley Green goal was able to push the ball over the bar.

The hosts began the second-half well and when a long ball was chased by a Crawley Green striker, Foxall came rushing out and brought him down, resulting in him being sent off and outfield player Sam Willis taking over in goal.

Butler had Potton’s best chance of the half when a long range shot went inches past the post but the hosts equalised in the 85th minute when a corner was headed in at the near post by Renaldo Smith, Potton seeing out ten minutes of stoppage time to earn a point but they will be disappointed not to have left with all three which were deserved.