PORT Saints almost stole all three points, but had to be content with a draw with rivals FC in a tight game of football at Tuffins Lane on Saturday.
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The game finished 1-1 but both teams had chances to win as the match wound down.
Saints had a couple of great opportunities right at the death, but Paul Galloway shot over the bar and Tyson Devrimol's header was accidentally deflected wide by Dean Glen-Holmes.
FC's best chance fell to Shaun Buckley, but he headed agonisingly wide at the far post.
His effort was also painful. Buckley hit his head on the post and was left lying in the goal mouth in obvious pain.
Tom Salter almost got on the end of a nice Sam Wilson free kick, but couldn't reel it in before the by-line.
Dakota Stafford had a shot saved by Chris Newbound in the Saints' goal.
Earlier, Saints defender Michael Potter opened the scoring but at the wrong end of the field. He make unfortunate contact with the ball and it went into his own net.
Michael Snow, who was in everything early on, pulled one back after an Anthony Jamieson corner, and that was the extent of the scoring for the afternoon.
The ball took two or three deflections as FC defenders struggled to clear from their own box, and Snow eventually put it in the back of the net.
Snow had a couple of great opportunities early. He had a on-on-one in the first minute which was saved by FC keeper Terrance Stafford.
Nick Davies made a great tackle at the back to deny him again.
Another one-on-one left Snow and Stafford in some pain at the end of the match.
He will miss Saints' catch-up match against Wildcats tomorrow night at Findlay Park.
Saints coach Tony Judge was dismayed his team didn't take the full complement of points on offer.
"I'm disappointed with the result for us," he said.
FC coach Tony Wilson hailed a "massive result" for his team.
Saints put 15 goals on FC the last time the two sides met.
"Yesterday, we only conceded two," Wilson said.
"That should be a big lift for reserve grade and for first grade."
Daniel Brennan went from FC's first grade hero last week to reserve grade zero in the space of seven days on Saturday.
He saw red after a dangerous tackle, leaving his team one short. Saints capitalised and scored a 1-0 victory.
