A patched up side, injuries to two defenders, a veteran striker playing in goal and yet the Police were minutes away from a battling three points. However a controversial decision from a referee's assistant denied the Tally Ho! side all three points when Clements was adjudged to have handled the ball.

The Police line up included Dave Scriven in goal as Simon Williams was away on holiday and Micky Griffiths unavailable. Clements came into centre half alongside Brise, whilst Lee switched to right back for once. In midfield Bradbury returned with the absence of McDonagh. Jarratt switched to left midfield whilst Tom Smith and Berry were the forward line.

The impressive Brise carried on from where he left off and the opening exchanges were quite competitive. Scriven made an age-defying reflex save to thwart the Uni attacker whilst at the other end the impressive Wood opened up the home defence and Tom Smith was inches from giving the Police the lead.

The referee was baffling the away dug out with some inconsistent decisions - one "bone-crunching" challenge from Berry was adjudged to be illegal despite him cleanly winning the ball. The Uni enjoyed a fair slice of possession with their five across the midfield - however Scriven was rarely tested and at half time the game was goaless.

The Uni came out and bossed the opening exchanges - largely due to having the wind in their favour which was quite a shock to 'keeper Scriven as it had been against the Police in the first half. The Uni had claims for a penalty when the ball was smashed straight at Lee on 50 mins - although he could do little to get out of the way of the ball. However the linesman on the Police defending side was continuing to give decisions in favour of the home side - and this was to carry on throughout the half.

However on 60 mins a cruical period of play saw the Police take the lead. The Uni had begun to force a series of corners and whip them in to test Scriven. This time the ball broke to the midfielder in the box and his shot beat Scriven but Lee was on the line and able to slice the ball away. Unfortunately the ball richoched straight back to another home player and this time Scriven produced an excellent save. The ball then broke to Harvey who fed Jarratt just outside of the Police box. The officials played an excellent advantage and 'DJ' made ground down the left wing. His pinpoint cross called for a brave header as the 'keeper looked favourite to get to it first. However Zac Berry had other ideas and with typical bravery he managed to outjump the home side's custodian and his header looped into an empty net.

The home side continued to force the Police further back with a succession of free-kicks and corners and were unlucky on several occasions not to snatch an equaliser. However the Police defence, expertly marshalled by Clements, deserved their luck for the bravery and commitment. However things started to go a bit wrong. First Lee was forced off with 'cramp' yet again and then Brise tore a hamstring and with all the substitutions made the away side was down to 10 men. Then Jake Harvey got himself sent off for a petulant act of behaviour towards an over-fussy official.

In injury time the 9 men succumbed to a penalty decision when the Uni forward hammered the ball at close range at Clements who could do little but stand there. The referee wasn't going to give it - but surprise, surprise the linesman from earlier put his flag across his chest and the spot kick was awarded.

The No 10 sent Scriven the wrong way and in time added on the Uni were unlucky not to snatch all three points when somehow no one connected with a cross into the box. However Police had penalty claims at the other end - when the defender punched the ball past substitute Blake - but yet again the decision went in the favour of the home side.

So, the points shared - as they were at Taly Ho! and the Police would certainly have taken a draw before the match. The manner in which it happened left a sore taste - as did the sending off of Harvey and the injury to Brise. Jake is a talented player - but he has to learn a spot of maturity if his ability is not to be wasted. Brise looks like being out for several weeks with his hamstring tear - so yet more changes will be expected at home next week to Heather.