In-form Holyport fail to hold on for all three points at Virginia Water

Goalscorer Kickie Dzimba in action earlier this season. Photo: Andrew Batt

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Virginia Water 2, Holyport 2

Holyport have the third best form in the Combined Counties Premier Division North over the past six matches, after Sam Lock's side once again showed character to pick up a point away to play-off chasers Virginia Water on Tuesday evening.

Port travelled to Stag Meadow with a much-changed side due to injuries and unavailability, but they still managed to come from behind to take a 2-1 lead before seeing all three points snatched from them in the final minute.

The draw moves Port a point closer to the division's play-off places, with the side now four points adrift of Burnham in fifth, with the Blues welcoming title challenging Flackwell Heath to the 1878 Stadium on Saturday.

Should Port pick up another positive result at Egham Town on Saturday it's possible they could be even closer to a play-off place by the end of the weekend ahead of three home games against leaders Rayners Lane, Risborough Rangers and Wallingford & Crowmarsh.

In short, the season is far from idling to a mid-table finish for Lock's men who have now won three and drawn two of their last six matches. They may be 11th in the table, but in this kind of form they have as good a chance as anyone of finishing in the top five.

After sweeping aside Ardley United 3-1 at home last week, Port came into this clash against Virginia Water full of confidence and that could be seen as they traded blows with their hosts in the first half. In fact, they had the best of the chances in the opening 15 minutes, with Lucas Surpanu seeing a great chance tipped over in the 15th minute.

One of Virginia Water's coaching team was then sent off, but that seemed to inspire the hosts who took the lead shortly afterwards through Tecane Shrowder's 28th minute strike.

But Holyport were never out of the contest and came close to a leveller before half-time through Kickie Dzimba.

The visitors continued to press forward in the second half, and they were rewarded for that endeavour when Lucas Surpanu fired them level in the 69th minute. Lock might have settled for a point before kick-off, but they looked like they might just take all three when Dzimba headed home their second in the 84th minute. Austen Edwards cleared the ball off the goal line as Port desperately defended their lead, but they couldn't quite hold out with Albie Nolan-French netting a 90th minute equaliser for the hosts.

Afterwards Lock posted: “Disappointed not to take all three points tonight but with the players we had unavailable today I would have taken a point before kick-off.

“Huge well done to the boys who stepped in, some not playing for months and some stepping up from the reserves. We go again Saturday.”