Lordswood drew 2-2 at home to Margate who moved into 2nd place with that draw, with the Lords remaining top. It was a well contested game but on reflection it was maybe 2 points that got away for the Lords - but it could have been worse!

Lordswood settled much the quicker and had the most of the first 25 mins and went 1-0 up from a goalmouth scramble.

The Lords had already threatened and had good possession up to that point, indeed they had good possession over the whole game, and the lead was well deserved at that stage.

This was then followed by a period of scrappy play and Lordswood began losing out to 2nd balls whilst Margate began to get a foothold in the game and started getting their own patterns of play going.

Margate equalised from the good movement of their strikers whilst the Lordswood defender was beaten too easily. The ball was slotted into space in the box as the keeper came out to block, covering one of his colleagues who had failed to react to the play developing around him. A little too late however as the Margate striker shot early past the keepers attempt to foil him.

1-1 at halftime and "probably about right," admitted Lords Manager Andy Slade. "Although we had been denied a certain penalty at 1-0 up as our striker had clipped the ball around the on rushing keeper-only had to stand up to roll the ball into the net as he pursued it. The keepers momentum caused him to crash into our striker who had already body swerved to play the ball into space around the keeper. To our amazement-play on. With our striker on the floor a defender on the wrong side cameback to clear."

The 2nd half was a story of Lords breaking time and time again but failing to put away the many chances that they were creating. Margate were battling hard and were well organised but at times helped out by last ditch blocks, tackles and their keeper making several saves to keep it at 1-1.

Half way through the half the Lords winger got to the ball first again in the penalty box and beat the keeper to the ball, nudging the ball to the side as the keepers momentum felled him. Nothing sinister, just mistimed. Nothing given this time either.

Margate had threatened with long balls and when their strikers who worked tirelessly got the ball they supported them as a unit and created some good play but the Lords defence was often equal to it and the keeper was not troubled that much.

"Changes were overlooked at the usual stage, last 20 mins as the game was in the balance and tightly contested," said Slade. "If we could put the ball away and get our noses in front, then we would make changes. We threatened and pressurised regularly, with corners a plenty as well."

Into the last 10 mins and Lords finally made 2 changes, not really a case of fresh legs as the players were taking responsibility in their positions and having to be more disciplined as they carried on with a 3 pronged attack. More a case of trying to find that little change to their pattern and perhaps a new key to help create a new problem for Margate.

"We were mindful also that Margate still looked capable, should we stick or twist? We twisted looking to try and win it." said Slade.

Lordswood got hit with a sucker punch with about 5 mins to go as 3 players made mistakes in the same move. With all the time in the world to clear, the ball was scuffed and rushed, a really poor effort 25 yards along the floor straight to the feet of a Margate player. As the Margate striker advanced the Lords defence dived in with a rush of blood to allow them movement and to play around into the box and to finish with a low shot past the keeper.

"We had ourselves to blame," conceded Slade. "I felt the game was always there for the taking and we wasted too many deadballs and clear chances to allow Margate to stay in this game. I know how football can do this to you."

Lordswood steeled themselves again however and very quickly created another 3 very clear chances. The equaliser came with literally a minute plus extra time to go. A cool finish one on one with the keeper as the Lords frontline outpaced the defence.

Unbelievably having been grateful to secure a point so late, Lordswood had 2 further chances to win it. One slid agonisingly just wide and another when the Lords forward beat the Margate defence and cut inside to square a ball to a team mate that probably should have been finished on this one occasion.

"Margate will feel they won that point," said Slade. "3 to them would definately have been unfair but thats football. You have to play for 90 mins and capitalise when you are on top. You have to put your chances away and keep the ball out at the other end-and thats how this game is scored. If it had been a boxing contest then I dont think many could have awarded the result anything than to us-but it is not boxing-its football and we drew 2-2."