10-MAN TIGERS MAKE POINT

A cold blustery morning on an unloved rec' was anything but welcoming for Tigers' 9am visit to Camberley. A meeting between two teams who have struggled for results and players this season was never going to be a game for the purists. Tigers chose to play into the gale and it was very quickly the elements that were the most influential factor. With the ball floating around in the air, Tigers usual struggles with aerial battles and securing second balls became even more apparent and Camberley were much more adept at keeping the ball. Tigers did have pace out wide and an early chance for Sinclair after a powerful run was wasted. Camberley were first on the scoreboard, breaking through a backline bamboozled by the ball's bounce and movement rather than the opposition's skills.
The upset turned to potential disaster three minutes later when centre-back Alex Rustomji was shown the red card for a tackle just outside Tigers' penalty area. The Camberley player appeared to go down after Rustomji had played the ball; initially the referee was looking to give a penalty which, allegedly, would have turned red to yellow, but with both Biggs and Sadoon sweeping behind Rustomji, the red card seemed harsh, the quality of the tackle notwithstanding.
As Tigers adapted their line-up, moving the ever-solid Carter into the back four, Camberley were quick to take advantage of the extra man and the loss of considerable height and bulk at the centre of Tigers' defence, bundling the ball home from a free-kick. Two goals down and ten men with over an hour remaining should have spelt disaster for Tigers. But this team has proved it has great character and showed it again today with a determined display. Sinclair and Davies were the usual threat on the flanks although both struggled to produce a final ball of quality. Pickrell was increasingly influential in midfield and it was a run by him into the Camberley 18 yard box that earned the penalty, Pickrell's heels being clipped by the defender, which Kobe Sabado put away with his usual composure to keep Tigers in the game as half-time approached.
With the wind at their backs for the second half, Tigers established greater control of the match. Camberley had switched their full-backs to try to temper the threat from Tigers but it certainly didn't contain Ned Davies who regularly moved in from his wing to terrorise the defence. Tigers defence was working efficiently to keep a high line which Camberley struggled to break and Rufus Biggs was stepping into midfield to support his hard-working skipper. Carter and Sadoon did an excellent job of marshalling their channels but Tigers found it difficult to construct a sustained attack. The passing by both teams was less than perfect but Tigers did show more bite in trying to regain possession. George Lee pulled the scores level on the hour, heading home a pinpoint cross from Davies. Unfortunately, it momentarily broke Tigers' concentration and Camberley went straight up the other end and, after a bit of pin-ball, regained the lead.
Camberley looked like they might hang on for the victory as Tigers continued to struggle to link midfield with the attack, the ball regularly accelerating into the keeper's hands or over the dead ball line. The home team had a couple of great opportunities but Joe Wallis was equal to the efforts and Biggs was a constant obstacle on Tigers' right. Toby Chilvers was now playing a role of growing significance and was finding room to bring the ball forward which in turn brought Lee more into the game. With six minutes remaining, George Lee found himself on the end of a perfectly weighted Davies free-kick to level the scores, claiming his second of the day.
The last six minutes were frantic as both teams went in search of the decider. Camberley hit the bar from a free kick and the hosts keeper tipped away a fabulous effort from Sabado as the clock went red.
The effort by Tigers to secure a point was huge and they deserve massive plaudits for staying in the game, never mind coming within a fingertip of winning. With most of the teams around Tigers in the league also posting draws, Tigers can go into their last four games of the season looking up rather than behind them