Holmer Green followed up their win over London Tigers with a creditable 1-1 draw away at Colney Heath on Saturday.

With Luca Gaster unavailable, there was a debut for Matt Hill in goal. Holmer kicked down the slope on a pitch that was surprisingly firm and flat, considering the recent weather. 

On 21 minutes Leo Blackman tested the home keeper with a volley. Seven minutes later the home side rattled the Holmer crossbar. The home goal had an escape after a bout of pinball on 40 minutes.

Just before the break Alex Rice found the Heath net, following good work by James Britnell and Leo Blackman. But the centre-forward was adjudged marginally offside. 

Rice went off with back injury in the opening minutes of the second half. Anthony Tyson came into midfield, with skipper Gary Lines moving up front. 

On 50 minutes a Curtis Stone free-kick found its way to Britnell, but his shot was deflected for a corner. Two minutes later Heath had a corner of their own. 

The deadlock was broken when Clarke-Mardel met the kick with a firm header. Holmer continued to look threatening up front, as in all their recent games. 

Tom Peddle James had a shot blocked on 54 minutes, then Matt Wooster could not keep his effort down when set up by Peddle-James. An attempt by Stone on the hour suffered a similar fate. 

Oscar Harrison sent Blackman away on the left, but no chance was created. Then Hill had to show his shot-stopping ability at the other end, before The Greens stepped up a gear in the final fifteen minutes. 
This resurgence produced two cautions for the home side, and there was a growing confidence in the Holmer ranks that at least a point could be rescued. Charlie Stottor came on for his debut with ten minutes remaining. 

With time running out Lines sent in an accurate right-wing corner, which picked out Britnell. A solid header gave ‘keeper and defenders alike no chance of preventing a goal.

Team: Hill, Jonty Summerell, Harrison, Lines ©, Ryan Parsons, Britnell, Peddle-James, Stone, Rice, Wooster, Blackman.