Football: Carr denied as Merstham are held Merstham held

Merstham's penultimate league game of the season ended all square in front of the club's new 172-seater stand.

This was never going to be an easy task for a Merstham side with niggling injury worries. They were forced to replace striker Meshach Nugent with reserves' top scorer Rawle Kendall.

The hosts started with an air of confidence and were surprised that Colliers Wood let them have so much of the play.

However, it was not until the 30-minute mark when Merstham made their first real effort on goal and it paid off.

A deep throw into the box by Gary Donovan found David Smith and and he neatly slotted home to give Merstham the lead.

Colliers Wood responded with some pressured attacks on the Merstham goal but nothing to really trouble keeper John McBride.

The home side looked content as they went in one up at the break.

The second half started where the first had finished as Merstham continued to play good one-touch football keeping United at bay.

This was rewarded in the 50th minute when Merstham were given a penalty.

Having skied his last penalty kick in the Challenge Cup final, Jamel Carr was determined to make this one count. It was a superb penalty kick that would have beaten any keeper in the league but to Carr's dismay Arek Jezierski made one of the finest saves seen at the Moatside this season to deny Carr his 19th league goal of the season.

The save seemed to buoy Colliers Wood into action and they mounted a series of attacks on the Merstham goal.

In the 64th minute their persistence paid off when a shot from Stephen Griffiths finally penetrated the Merstham defence and they were back on level terms.

With their tails up Colliers Wood continued to put the pressure on Merstham, but their solid defence and outstanding goalkeeping from McBride saw them through to the final whistle.

Merstham: McBride, Bedford, Donovan (Hill), Boulter, David, Hunter, Carr, Roberts (Ellis), Kendall, Smith (Corbett), Davis