Pyrford continued their recent good run with a well-earned draw against Brookwood. It was a strange game that saw Pyrford overrun, then take the lead, and finish playing against 8 men following a torrent of foul-mouthed abuse from the Brookwood players and management.
Pyrford named a largely unchanged side from the previous two wins against Stoughton, but looked like they would be on the wrong end of a hammering early on. The Brookwood number 9 easily beat Ben and lashed home his first, before doubling the lead after shrugging Summers off a through ball.
Pyrford looked beaten, and Brookwood were the side playing all the football. Duane then kept Pyrford in it with a couple of fine saves, and his handling and shot stopping were excellent throughout.
Out of nowhere, and with their first chance, Pyrford got back into the game. A long clearance was flicked on by Scott, and Rob finished superbly on the run with his weaker foot into the far corner.
The second half was a totally different game. Pyrford were still the lesser of the two passing sides, but they began to cause problems. Good work by Wattsy down the left found Matt, who hit a looping cross to the back post, where Scott comfortably outjumped his marker to head home the equaliser.
Pyrford then took the lead when Matt got in on the left, and seemed to have an eternity to pick his spot and did so, although the keeper will be a little disappointed he didn't get more on it.
This only served to wind up Brookwood's players, who seem to have a very misplaced superiority complex. A slight foul by Kiddo, who had replaced the injured Alex midway through the first half, caused a reaction from the Brookwood midfielder who needlessly squared up to him. Kiddo, never one to back down, stood his ground, only for the entire Brookwood team to cause a melee around him a goading the ref to send him off, despite him not actually doing a great deal wrong. Even the Brookwood management felt the need to get involved on the pitch, which isn't exactly surprising. From this moment on, every decision was met with a torrent of abuse from the more intellectually challenged of the Brookwood players and management, including decisions which were not even close calls.
Brookwood started to have more chances, as their superior movement had caused problems throughout, but Pyrford missed a glorious chance to win the game when Matt was put through again, but his curling effort was tipped wide by the keeper. Brookwood duly got their equaliser with a few minutes remaining, as the pressure finally told, and a back post header from a cross gave Duane no chance.
The game ended on a sour note for Brookwood, but a totally deserved one. As another clear offside decision was rightly given, two Brookwood players came charging towards the Pyrford linesman, calling him all names under the sun. The referee had warned them on several occasions, and had no choice but to send them both off. The Brookwood right back, the main protagonist in the earlier melee, then ran up to the referee and screamed more abuse at him, and he was rightly sent off too.
Unfortunately this came too late for Pyrford to take advantage, but they will be happy with a point that looked so far out of reach early on in the game. As for Brookwood, their fate will be decided by the league.
