FC Jiggle 0 Ifield Eagles B 0

Jiggle were left to rue a series of missed opportunities as they picked up their first draw of the summer in an entertaining game against fellow League A strugglers Eagles B.

If the gambling man had been betting on the result before the game he'd likely have ended a very rich man. Both sides entered the match without their leading scorers and Eagles had drawn their last three matches. With Eagles top scorer having scored all four of their goals this season and the absent Sam and Phil having netted three of Jiggle's four, Dave Carling was the only player with a solitary strike to his name going into the game. The eventual blank scoresheet however wasn't for a lack of trying by either side.

Jiggle lined up for this one with Dave and Chris at the back and Dave Carling joined in attack by Stu MacPherson making his first appearance since the Week 4 match against TSC.

An even opening ten minutes were illuminated by only a handful of chances as the defences retained comfortable control. Eagles almost struck first but Phil in Jiggle's goal was on hand to turn away a well-struck shot from distance. Jiggle's closest came from the resulting corner as Phil's long throw found Stu in behind the defence with keeper to beat but able only to lash the shot agonisingly inches wide.

The game began to open up after the break with Jiggle slowly beginning to exert more of the pressure but Eagles pushing plenty forward of their own. Eagles began the half in the ascendancy and a forward might have done much better pulling his shot across goal when in with a useful sighter two minutes in.

At the other end Stu was becoming an increasingly significant figure in the match finding some good positions and notably reading and intercepting a good number of goal-kicks. Stu had his second great chance soon after the break when put through by Dave Carling but fired wide of the far post.

A goal seemed to be getting closer and looked to have arrived midway through the half as Stu carved a path through the defence and delivered a low left footed drive that cannoned back off the inside of the post. Chris too came close as his effort from the left side was diverted clear by the keeper's boot. Jiggle were having plenty of good positions but were finishing in wayward fashion.

The best chances for either side came in a frenetic closing two minutes. First Dave Carling was released on half-way and outpaced the covering defender but one-on-one drove his shot against the near post. Eagles too came very close to winning it as a bouncing ball caused problems in Jiggle's defence and was latched onto by a striker who dispatched his shot low to the keeper's right until Phil got down superbly to turn it away. Soon after the keeper was on hand to smother once more as Eagles threatened a winner. Straight from the counter Jiggle had one last chance to win it but Stu's shot flew high over the top.

The full-time whistle meant a fair share of the points that does not a lot for either sides ambitions of climbing out of the bottom three. Jiggle now turn their attentions to a meeting with third bottom Purple A's on Friday. The A's are three points ahead but Jiggle's better goal difference means a win would elevate the side off bottom entering the final fortnight of the season.

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Chris Laker, Stuart MacPherson, Dave Carling.