Jamie McClurg and Carl Withers were in the home dugout at Bottom Meadow for the first time on Monday night as Bracknell Town hosted Hanwell Town in a 1-1 Southern League Premier Division South draw.
The Robins were given the opportunity take an early lead when they were awarded a penalty for a foul just inside the box. Jordan Esprit stepped up and converted the spot kick, putting Bracknell ahead five minutes into the game.
After the early setback, the away side rallied and started to put Bracknell under pressure with some neat build-up play, but the Robins always carried a threat, most notably through Esprit. Midway through the first half the striker was played in and managed to beat one defender before seeing his shot from a tight angle saved by the Hanwell keeper.
Shortly afterwards the visitors were level after Callum Duffy finished off a well-worked passage of play with a neat finish.
Hanwell continued to press, forcing Bracknell to rely on a combination of last-ditch defending and Simon Grant in goal to make it to half time with the score at 1-1.
Bracknell were much more competitive in the second half and early on Gary Abisogun had a shot blocked with Ashley Lodge meeting the rebound only to see his shot deflected just wide.
Hanwell were still well in the game too, but Robins mainly managed to limit them to shots from outside the box that didn’t trouble Grant.
Late on Dan Bayliss had a chance to win the game when he met a corner but the defender’s header was straight at the Hanwell keeper.
The game finished 1-1 and Withers and McClurg will have been happy with a point against a very good side, especially following the second-half performance.
