Hatherleigh Town 2
Tap and Barrel 2
TAP and Barrel came into this fixture boasting a perfect league record of ten wins out of ten. But a determined display by Hatherleigh left a dent in their pride for the trip home.
From the start the home side got some dangerous crosses into the box.
Paul Harris made the opening goal. He gained possession inside the Tap half and ran at the defence before playing the ball to Simon James, who hit a good shot past the keeper.
This lead could have been doubled when Dymond raced onto a pass from Adams but he screwed his shot wide.
Tap came out in determined mood for the second half and penned the home side in for long spells. A low cross into the six-yard box left Kenny Smith with a simple tap in at the far post to equalise.
The visitors would have taken the lead when Webb got on the end of a cross only to see Gary Toop produce a great reaction save.
Both teams went down to ten men when Tap?s Sean Hellier stamped on Paul Endacott in an off-the-ball incident. Endacott kicked back at Hellier, leaving the referee with no option but to brandish two red cards.
Tap went into the lead when a ball across goal was turned into his own net by Pearson.
With time running out Hatherleigh pushed forward and worked the ball into the box to Dymond. He went down under the defender?s clumsy challenge and the referee pointed to the penalty spot.
It was left to Neil Vernon to snatch a point with the last kick of the game.