Robins slip into relegation danger after blowing two-goal lead

8:54am Tuesday 25th March 2008

By Peter Randall

Not for the first time this season the Robins surrendered a two-goal lead against a side who were their inferiors for the first hour of the game.

The price for this latest occurrence may turn out to be expensive in every respect as Hayden Bird's team now find themselves one place from already-relegated Leyton with time and games quickly running out.

Injuries and suspensions have all come at the wrong time but, having contrived to be in such a comfortable position it was, to say the least, disappointing that the side lost their way so badly and clearly lacked the wherewithall to cope when Town applied the pressure in the final half hour.

Conditions for both sides were difficult with a swirling wind that made the pace and direction of the ball a lottery, but it was the Robins who adapted best as they attempted to tame the lively ball and press forward.

Jason Henry was looking lively on the right and a telling pass picked out Rob Ursell, who found space to shoot, but home keeper Ronnie Worster was well placed to save.

Carshalton took a deserved lead on 24 minutes when Ursell gained possession on the right and his chipped pass to Phil Ruggles was headed home at the near post.

Town responded almost immediately and fullback McSweeney should have equalised, but when the ball came in from the left he put his header back across the goal and wide of the far post.

This turned out to be Town's best chance of the half as, far too often, their attempts to play the ball forward quickly ended with passes being overhit or players in an offside position.

It was only in the final minutes of the half that the home team applied serious pressure and a succession of corners kept the Robins defenders on their toes.

Just before the break time finally caught up with Town's tame thug, Paul Shaves, who was booked by a lenient referee for his fourth serious offence of the half and a late challenge on goalkeeper Aaron Howe, who was only able to continue after several minutes treatment.

It came as no surprise when Shaves was withdrawn by the Town management to avoid an almost inevitable sending-off and his replacement, the experienced ex-pro Lee Hodges, was soon in the thick of the action with his efforts to prompt his colleagues from midfield.

Dean Carpenter burst from midfield for the Robins and his shot went narrowly over, but Carshalton were fortunate when Jason Henry, back to help out in defence, completely miskicked from a Town free-kick.

Bricknell bundled the ball home, but the linesman's flag came to the rescue and the effort was disallowed for offside.

Thirteen minutes into the half, the Robins increased their lead and Ursell again was the provider.

His corner kick picked out Liam Harwood and the defender's towering header gave Worster no chance.

The Robins pressed forward again and Henry appeared to be stamped on in a goalmouth melee, but the referee allowed the game to continue with Rikki Burbridge coming on for Town.

Rather than sitting back to take the sting out of the increasingly frantic Billericay attacking play, the Robins continued to press and they were caught out when Bradley Woods-Garnes pulled a goal back when he cut in on a jinking run from the right and scored with a low shot from the most acute of angles.

Woods-Garnes, who had been anonymous for most of the earlier stages, proceeded to enjoy an inspired 20 minutes and proved the architect of Billericay's remarkable come-back as the Robins were overwhelmed.

The winger set up the equaliser for Hodges who displayed the more unpleasant side of his professional experience when he refused to release the ball leading to an ill-tempered brawl involving players from both sides.

Harte was taken off as tempers threatened to boil over, but by this time Standen was struggling badly in midfield and Ursell was also limping after a heavy tackle.

Woods-Garnes worked his magic again to set up Billy Bricknell for the chance to put Town ahead and was also involved in the fourth when his cross took a deflection off carpenter to drop kindly at the feet of Burbridge and the Robins misery was complete.

Robins: Howe, Harte (Cooper), Carpenter, Graves, Harwood, York, Henry, Standen (Rayner), Ruggles, Ursell (Plummer), Johnson. Sub not used: Wayne Wilson.