STEPHEN Cleal felt his side put in a ‘complete shift’ after 10-man Malvern Town drew 1-1 away at Bashley in a game decided by two penalties.
A spot kick from Jack Watts put the Hillsiders ahead only for Lewis Ross to equalise for the home side with a penalty of his own at the Veho Community Stadium.
And Malvern had Luke Payne sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity on 68 minutes as the Hillsiders held on to claim an impressive point.
The game took place amidst Storm Darragh with the match the only Southern League Division One South fixture to go ahead. The division’s 10 other scheduled matches all fell foul of the weather.
Malvern co-manager Cleal said: “Full credit to them [for getting the game on], there were a few areas where it was a bit wet and the referee was a bit unsure at the start of the game but I’m grateful they got it on and it was a good game of football.
“We’ve come away to a team trying to get in and around the play-offs. To get a point here, before the game you’d take it and given the circumstances [with the weather] you’d definitely take it.
“You don’t want to talk about referees too much but if the first one was given against me I’d be very disappointed and when the second one was given against us, I’m not surprised but I’m disappointed.
“I don’t think either of them are penalties but he’s seen something I don’t think anyone in the ground has seen but it is what it is.
“It’s important we learn from this, in the first half we were very good, we played some good football and defended well.
“They were always going to come after us in the first 10 or 15 minutes of the second half but we were poor.
“Then the decision went against Luke [Payne] and we’re down to 10-men, the lads worked a complete shift to get us a point on the road.
“It’s important we back it up with three points at home against Larkhall but it’s going to be a tough game like everything is in this league.”
Malvern made a strong start as Bashley goalkeeper Mack Allan held Alex Bell’s effort from just outside the penalty area.
And Allan then made a flying fingertip save to deny Lewis Spurrier with the Malvern man’s shot heading towards the top corner.
Bell fired narrowly over soon after before Scott Bungay caused Malvern problems at the other end but failed to seriously trouble Lewis Adams in the Hillsiders net.
The first talking point of the game arrived on 25 minutes when Allan appeared to gather a loose ball ahead of Malvern’s Harry Clark only for the referee to point to the spot.
Bashley’s furious protests saw the referee consult with his assistant with the penalty awarded following a lengthy discussion.
And Watts stepped up to fire the resulting spot kick past the despairing dive of Allan.
Malvern almost doubled their lead before the break only for Clark to shoot wide from a promising position.
The home side improved after the interval as Adams almost allowed Luke Delaney’s cross from the right to creep in at his near post.
Bungay then smashed a shot against the post before Conor Whiteley went down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot for a second time.
And Ross coolly found the net from the resulting spot kick on 51 minutes to draw the home side level.
The visitors then lost captain Payne to a straight red card after he fouled Delaney with the Bashley man through on goal.
Bashley spurned two glorious chances to win the game as both Dan Walster and Robert Flooks somehow failed to find the target from close range.
The draw leaves the Hillsiders 10th in the Southern League Division One South table, four points outside of the play-off places.
Malvern are next in action against Larkhall Athletic on Saturday, December 14 with kick-off at 3pm at the HDAnywhere Community Stadium.
