Livous earns Sports a deserved point

Durrell Livous earned Sports a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s UHLSport Hellenic League clash.

Shortwood were a much stronger side than the one which produced a smash-and-grab raid at Addison Road and were boosted by four first team players who made a difference.

They started brightly in Saturday’s Division One West clash. Anderson Ongono was a real threat out wide on the left and Sam Mendes was influential in midfield picking out the early runs of the lively Oliver Portlock.

Sports finally got into the game with Sam Grant and Adil Hussain working hard to get in behind the defence.

In an end-to-end first half, Shortwood eventually took the lead from a corner. Richard Meadows, deputising for Jack Goode, punched the ball clear but the ball fell to Mendes who smashed a half volley into the roof of the net via post and bar.

The visitors responded well, Tom Smith headed back across goal but Durrell Livous just failed to convert. Sports eventually drew level just before the break when a corner from Lewis Travers was well saved by Lloyd Price but Livous tucked away the knock down.

After the restart, Ongono’s pace and trickery led to some last-ditch clearances and Will Hawes smashed a shot against the post. But Sports began to create chances.

Livous cut inside and smashed a low shot which Price tipped around the post, Husain and Sam Grant were also played through with just the keeper to beat but both blazed over.

Shortwood threatened again, Meadows dealt with cross at the near post which bounced up on to the bar before rushing out to thwart Portlock. But Josh Rose and Aaron Dosanjh both went close with headers from two superb deliveries by Travers.