SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CORSHAM Town were left to rue a glut of missed chances as nine-man Larkhall Athletic held on for a share of the spoils on Saturday 15th December.

The home side saw Jim McLay dismissed in the 20th minute for kicking Corsham defender Andy Hunt in retaliation and then lost Shaun Wiles-Richards for showing dissent to an assistant referee following the same incident.

But, despite a two-man advantage, the visitors could not find a way past a determined Larkhall defence and missed the chance to leapfrog their hosts in the First Division table.

Veteran frontman John Freegard headed wide three times as Corsham piled on the pressure, while Andy Wicks, Ben Lang and James Lye all missed chances for the visitors.

Freegard and 10-goal top scorer Matt Pratley both saw efforts ruled out, while Pratley also rattled the hosts' goalframe with a fierce 20-yard drive in the closing stages.

Corsham boss Mark Godley felt playing against nine men had

actually hampered his side's bid for victory.

He said: "When the first one went off, I thought 'oh, good', but then the second one went and it was 'oh, no' because you knew they would just defend with nine men.

"They reverted to a 4-3-1 formation and it was just like trying to get through a brick wall."

But Godley refused to be downhearted after an authoritative display from his men.

He said: "I can't criticise the lads for the way they played, we just couldn't stick the ball in the back of the net."

The draw leaves Corsham ninth in the First Division table, but just two points separate seven sides on the fringe of the promotion race and Godley believes the Christmas fixture programme will prove crucial in deciding which sides will challenge in the New Year.