Rainworth battle back to earn point at Maltby

The hosts made the most of the Muglet Lane slope in the first period but when Rainworth had the use of it in the second they pulled back the deficit in a 2-2 draw, missing a penalty in a very physical game.

Rainworth threatened in the opening minute when Aaron Moxam drove into the penalty area and found Phil Buxton who in turn set up Owen Heather, but his shot lacked power, Moxam next to threaten with a shot easily gathered by the keeper on five minutes.

Maltby soon created a chance of their own when hesitation between Matt Sykes and Ben Townsend almost gifted them a goal.

In the 11th minute Maltby took the lead when a long ball found Steve Hopewell and despite Townsend’s brave attempt he had no-chance as they took the lead.

The lead was doubled soon afterwards when an innocuous cross was missed by at least three players and when it found Shawn Mitchell he made no mistake, hitting his fierce drive into the bottom corner.

A clear cut chance for 3-0 went begging on the half-hour mark before a forced Wrens substitution saw the injured Rob Ludlam replaced by Jack Barnett, Julian Topliss and Tomas Poole seeing chances go close before the break for the visitors.

The advantage of the slope soon became evident as the second-half got underway with Rainworth now on the front foot.

Poole’s 56th minute free-kick was only inches over but then Rainworth almost gifted Maltby their third two minutes later with some comic defending.

Rainworth went close again in the 60th minute when Poole’s excellent through ball found Heather but his effort was inches wide, then Barnett was only inches over with his free-kick.

The pace of Declan Brewin was then introduced in place of Heather and had an immediate impact as after Brewin broke on goal in the 71st minute the keeper did well to parry his goal-bound shot, but Moxam followed up to put it into the net.

It was all Rainworth now as Moxam found Topliss, but his effort was just wide, then desperate defending in the 78th minute resulted in a penalty as Topliss was pulled back in the penalty area when through on goal. But the keeper guessed right and Moxam’s penalty was saved.

Maltby’s reprieve was short lived and in the 81st minute Moxam found Claxton and his inviting cross was met by Brewin for the equaliser.

Rainworth almost won the match in literally the last attack of the game when Sykes’ goal bound shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper, the points ultimately shared.