There was late drama in the Southern Counties East Football League Division One when Halls Athletic entertained FC Elmstead.
Fewer than twenty seconds were on the clock when Gbolahan Noiki flashed a shot wide of the near post for the hosts, however, it was Elmstead who were gifted the lead in the third minute. Goalkeeper Josh Atkinson received a back pass under pressure and tried to take it around Frankie Driscoll. The striker nicked it away and rolled it into the empty net.
Noiki had a shot deflected wide before Kenny Dadds was threaded through by Stephen Gbopo and Thomas Cleary was forced to save with his feet. Gergo Petrovics had the hosts next opportunity when heading over from a free kick by Leo Mabb.
At the other end, Ryan Croucher shot wide from thirty yards then Fin Williams had a shot saved by Atkinson and Driscoll’s follow up was blocked by Baciro Bari.
Both sides had to make a change through injury in the first half and Halls made a double substitution at the break.
Despite that, Elmstead had the first chance of the second period when a Rob Myles cross was palmed away by Atkinson as far as Kameiko Pope-Campbell but he fired just over. Frankie White created an opportunity for Halls when breaking a tackle and pulling it back for Sam Bayford who shot just wide of the near post.
Bayford then spotted Cleary off his line and tried his luck from forty-five yards. His radar was off, though, and he shot well wide.
Looking to profit again from putting pressure on the Halls defence, Kiyan Pinnock caught Bari in possession on the edge of the penalty area but fired over. Callum Fincham got in behind and shot early, however, he missed the target. Pinnock was off target with another effort shortly afterwards. Myles was next to miss when firing over after collecting a diagonal free kick.
Seven minutes remained when there was a melee which involved the majority of the players. When it was resolved, Bayford and Croucher were both cautioned. That was the end of the latter’s participation as he had been shown a yellow ticket in the first half.
After Bayford delivered a corner that hit the bar, there was another spat and a yellow card was shown to a member of each management team.
Referee Guy Tuoko indicated six minutes of stoppage time, and in the fifth Halls levelled. Aaron Simpson delivered a low cross to the far post and Abdulahmed Oladimeji arrived late to bundle it home.
Although both teams will have wanted a win, the point that each team claimed got them off the mark and it was probably a just outcome.
Halls AFC: Atkinson; Petrovics, Bari, Akintimehin (Doyle 46) , Mabb; Dadds (Bayford 38), Asiedu; Martin (White 46), Powell (Oladimeji 67); Gbopo, Noiki (Simpson 67).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: Oladimeji (90+5)
Yellow cards: Bayford (83 ungentlemanly conduct), Petrovics (90 foul)
FC Elmstead: Cleary; Green, Faithorn, Alliband; Croucher; Fill (Williams 20), Fincham, Myles (Corner 83); Pope-Campbell; Fitton (Pinnock 62), Driscoll.
Subs not used: Fearn, Harris.
Goalscorers: Driscoll (3)
Yellow cards: Croucher (32 accumulation), Fitton (57 foul), Myles (71 delay of restart)
Red card: Croucher (83 2nd yellow ungentlemanly conduct)
Referee: Guy Touko
Assistants: Martin Bullock and Oluwasunkanmi
Attendance: TBC