It was a case of never mind the quality, feel the point, at Old Road, as both sides cancelled each other out for a second successive league meeting. Neither team deserved to bag all three points in a game of limited chances, but the Silkmen extended their unbeaten phase 2 run to 5 games, and secured another vital point for their survival tally.
Ferry had the better of the first half, a period in which the ball seemed to spend most of its time up in the area, as the Silkmen struggled to get their passing game going.
A long free kick by Will Fuller found its way to Ollie Anderson who got around Sidi Fofana, but Jack Flint was out quickly to save at the striker’s feet before he could get a decent shot away.
It was past the half hour mark before the visitors had their first real opportunity of the afternoon. Ben Hughes, who always looked the more likely to spark some invention into his side when he was on the ball, did well on the right before setting up Jake Canavan, who hit an arrowing shot that looked as it was heading for the corner before a vital deflection took it away from the target.
On 38 minutes, Flint was called into action once more, saving with his legs from Ricky-Lee Owen who shot from the angle on the 6 yard box, having received a pass from Tom Price.
The Silkmen eventually managed to produce a flowing passing move four minutes before the break, that almost produced results. It ended with Canavan exchanging passes and running infield from the right, before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that Fuller did well to push around his post.
A couple of minutes into the second half, and Hughes received the ball in an advanced position, before making space for himself but dragged his shot wide.
A defensive mishap almost proved costly just before the hour mark as Fofana played a square ball in front of the 18 yard box to Harry Owen. It seemed to squirm under Owen’s foot as he went to control it, and ran onto Andersen, who decided to take a first time shot rather than try and control it. The result was a hurried effort that lacked power and Flint safely gathered.
The introduction of Josh Jones from the bench gave the Silkmen a much needed boost of attacking energy, and with 15 minutes remaining he laid the ball back to Hughes who sent in a quality curling delivery that was met by Darren Stephenson from 6 yards out. Fuller produced a fine one handed save to divert the striker’s header over the bar, ensuring the game remained goalless.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Briton Ferry Llansawel – W. Fuller, L. Bates, K. Jenkins, A. Gammond (c), L. Cooper, D. Packer, M. Bates, T. Price, T. Walters, O. Andersen (S. Snaith 80), R-L Owen. Unused Subs – R. Wilson (GK), R. Dyer, C. Hurford, L. Herdman, R. George, R. Dyer
Flint Town United – J. Flint, B. Woollam, O. Abadaki (J. Jones 72), S. Fofana, H. Owen (c), J. Thorn, J. Phillips, B. Hughes, E. Reeves, D. Stephenson, J. Canavan. Unused Subs – D. Szczepaniak (GK), M. Purvis, E. Smith, A. Mudimu, L. Jonas, C. Ferguson
Flint MOM – Ben Hughes (in a game low on quality he was one of the few bright spots from a Flint perspective)
