A TALE OF TWO PENALTIES

Blues winless run continued at Spa Road when they succumbed to what looked a soft injury time penalty cancelling out a sublime strike from Joe Paxman. But in truth the game should have been put beyond Witham had Blues capitalised on the numerous chances created especially in the first period where apart from a third minute scare they totally dominated play. Witham offered little other than a physical approach designed to disrupt Blues rhythm, they were helped by an official who seemed locked in a 70's time warp when he failed to punish numerous agricultural challenges. It could be said the pivotal moment in the game came when the usually reliable David Knight screwed his spot kick wide of the goal, but shortly after Paxman saved his blushes with the opening goal. Now was the time for Blues to press home their advantage but poor game management saw them drop deeper hitting hopeful long balls forward and allowing Witham in the closing minutes to see more of the ball culminating in an injury time penalty.

Witham could have snatched the lead inside the first five minutes when Luke Ige stole in at the far post and only a point blank save from Danny Sambridge prevented his header from crossing the line.

After the early scare Blues settled into the game making all the running on a difficult surface. Lewis Dark back in the team after a long absence played the holding role allowing Mitch Hahn a more advanced position pushing Blues forward.

Aron Gordon provided the first moment of excitement when he cut inside unleashing an effort crashing against the woodwork, it was Gordon looking lively who was the chief provider during this period crossing to Paxman who nodded wide. Witham penned in their own half resorted to some borderline challenges, unpunished in an effort to keep their goal intact, aided it must be said by Blues wayward finishing. The supporters were waiting for the hammer to fall but it just wasn't happening.

Dark was denied by Rhys Madden who, despite his team coming under constant pressure, was rarely tested such was Blues lack of a cutting edge when it mattered. Witham rarely threatened resorting to long balls to Suiabo Balde who although pacy failed to deliver a telling cross.

HT 0-0

Blues had a great opportunity to get their noses in front in the opening minutes of the half when Hahn was clattered in the box a clear penalty. Knight uncharacteristically made a mess of the spot kick when he failed to hit the target .

Unbowed by the disappointment Blues continued to probe and were rewarded in the 51st minute when Paxman curled a delightful shot into the top corner - its been a feature of his play this season where the midfielder given an extended run in the side has added goals to his game.

On top Blues looked for a second goal, Anointed Chukwu hit a shot on the turn whistling past the upright, Paxman fed Gordon but he wasted the chance firing over. It was to be a recurring theme, chances created and scorned as Blues play became more frantic resorting to long range efforts.

With the score at 1-0 and though under pressure Witham were still in the game, Greg Akpele in a rare raid tested Sambridge who had been a virtual spectator for long periods.

Hahn was the recipient of a brutal arial challenge which left him prone and in some pain , although awarding a free kick the referee failed to book or even talk to the assailant .

With the clock ticking down Blues eased off , dropped deep, inviting Witham on to them - their passing game stuttered now resorting to long balls to the increasingly isolated front men. Gordon did break free but again the finish lacked accuracy .

Deep into injury time Witham pumped a free kick into the box a scrambled ensued, Akpele went down dramatically under what looked an innocuous challenge, winning a match saving penalty dispatched by Adam Vyse.

I t was a cruel blow but had Blues been more clinical in front of goal and taken their numerous chances the goal should have only been a consolation for the hosts. So two points dropped rather than one gained would be the correct assessment of the afternoon . Blues remain in the play off places, but they need to rediscover their early season goal scoring form if they are to reverse this recent run of results and stay in the promotion hunt.

Sambridge, Sammons , Joynes (Brown 90) Okonkwo, Clark, Dark, Paxman (Gould 79), Hahn, Chukwu, Knight (Moncur 90) Gordon

Subs not used; McQueen, Watts