Blues fail to go forth

Waltham Forest 2 Arlesey Town 1 The points went to the home side courtesy of an own goal in injury time in the fourth meeting between the clubs this season. They had previously been in action in both the FA and Ryman League cups and the Blues did not get

Waltham Forest 2 Arlesey Town 1

The points went to the home side courtesy of an own goal in injury time in the fourth meeting between the clubs this season.

They had previously been in action in both the FA and Ryman League cups and the Blues did not get what they deserved on their last likely visit to Wadham Lodge as the club are moving ground for next season.

Arlesey were forced to make a late change when keeper Luke Howard was forced to withdraw in the pre-match warm-up and Lee Robinson made his debut for the club.

Despite their slow start, Arlesey took command from the half hour point and despite numerous corners and shots they only had one goal to show for their efforts.

And the Blues paid the ultimate price in added time when they conceded an own goal from a free-kick.

Arlesey started slowly against the quick home attack and Robinson saved well from Kamara before Forest took the lead in the 15th minute with a fine cross-shot from Etienne-Clark.

The home side continued to ask the questions as Durrant struck a free-kick over the bar and the Arlesey midfield was non-effective in protecting their defence, constantly being overrun.

With the interval approaching, Arlesey upped their game.

Obi Nene held off two defenders only for his effort to be palmed away by La Gafa, Owen Beale shot wide and then the home keeper saved brilliantly from a Lee Tekell header.

The home goal survived the next attack luckily as both Leon Gutzmore and Ryan Oliva had close-range efforts blocked on the line following a Craig Reynolds corner.

Then, in a rare attack on the stroke of half time, Petri appeared through on goal only to shoot hopelessly wide.

The second half was all Arlesey. Oliva directed a header narrowly over from a corner with the keeper beaten as the visitors' corner count began to mount.

Stuart Beevor replaced Martyn Young and when he linked with Nene, his shot again brought the best out of La Gafa.

The equaliser eventually arrived in the 78th minute from another corner.

A scramble ensued that saw Nene force the ball over the line and make sure after an effort from Gutzmore appeared to have also crossed the line.

Arlesey almost took the lead when a cross from Matt Waldron was glanced narrowly over the bar by Nene.

All the late action was at the Forest end but disaster struck in injury time.

Forest were awarded a free-kick on the left and Georghiou placed the ball into the box for Reynolds to send a header past his own keeper Robinson for an unlikely winner.

Blues: Robinson, Waldron, Fowler, Oliva, Dillnutt, Beale, Young, Reynolds, Gutzmore, Nene, Tekell.

Subs: Brown, Beech, Okojie, Osbourne, Beevor.