Town’s reserves will feel they should have won this evening’s 1-1 draw with Southampton. Despite going ahead through a fantastic Abidallah goal and playing the latter part of the second half against ten men Town conceded a late equaliser
Town lined up with Steve Burton partnering Neil Midgley in attack. Burton has had a busy week, impressing at this level against Watford last week before playing for the Youth side which won at Sheffield United on Monday. In goal was Keith Branagan while John McGreal and Wayne Brown added experience at the back. In midfield Stephen Cosgrove made his second appearance on trial from Manchester United.
Southampton included a very portly Matt ‘the Fat’ Le Tissier as well as ex-Manchester City man Uwe Rosler and ex-England international Stuart Ripley. Neil Moss played in goal.
The first half was goalless with Town having most of the play. Early on the Southampton goal was under severe pressure as Town tried to bang crosses in from each flank.
Amir Karic put in a particularly penetrating ball which was put over by a defender.
The closest Town came to a goal was through the unlikely source of John McGreal. A corner from Abidallah was flick-headed wide by the goal every 300-odd appearances man.
Another Abidallah corner saw Cosgrove, who was again pretty anonymous, hit a volley which looped over at about three times as high as the goal.
Southampton’s best chance came when Imants Bleideilis headed wide from close in.
Neil Midgley should have done slightly better late on when he volleyed an excellent Friars cross over from about eight yards out.
Half-time saw no substitutions and Town were quickly putting Southampton under pressure again with Karic enjoying possession down the left.
Town’s first chance fell to Cosgrove on the edge of the area, rather than shooting he chose to put the ball wide to Miller who crossed lamely.
Abidallah flashed a shot across the goal a few minutes later. At the other end a mix-up McGreal and Branagan saw the keeper save with his legs as Wallace ran in on him. Wallace went close shortly afterwards with a header.
John McGreal and the recently booked Uwe Rosler almost came to blows, but referee Perkin calmed things down without further cards.
Southampton went close with a cracking drive that just went wide while at the other end Abidallah, who was by now up front with Midgley with Bloomfield at right midfield, just failed to get on the end of a Karic cross.
Lee Beevers came on for McGreal on 73 and almost immediately the game sprung to life. Amir Karic was sent sprawling by a dreadful late challenge by Chris Baird. Abidallah picked up the loose ball ran at the defenders, cut in and hammered a shot home from the edge of the area. It was a superb individual effort from a player on the verge of a first team appearance.
As Town celebrated the goal referee Perkin called Baird over and produced his second yellow, followed by a red card. The challenge on Karic had deserved a red card in itself truth be told.
A few minutes later Le Tissier squared up to Karic and referee had words with the Channel Islander. The Channel Islander had four letter words with Karic.
Southampton went close when Imants Bleidelis put a shot across the goal.
The ten men equalised against the run of play when Adam Wallace headed past Branagan from a cross from the right by Rosler. The Town defenders looked very unhappy and a post mortem began amongst the central defenders.
In the last minute Friars was replaced by Stephen Moffat who is allowed to play for Town even while on loan at Chelmsford City.
A few minutes later referee Perkin blew the whistle on a game Town should have won. If anything the sending off caused Southampton to play a breaking game which suited them much better than their previous patient approach.
Town man of the match was without doubt Nabil Abidallah who scored an excellent goal and did particularly well when up front late on. Trialist Cosgrove again didn’t really show too much, although trials are always difficult. Amir Karic had probably his best game for the reserves, but over all it was two points thrown away by the Town second string.
Branagan, Nicholls, Karic, McGreal (Beevers 73), Miller, Brown, Abidallah, Cosgrove, Burton (Bloomfield 62), Midgley and Friars (Moffat 90).