Eynesbury ended the perfect start of United Counties League Premier Division pacesetters Newport Pagnell last night - but manager Mark Ducket was disappointed not to condemn them to a first defeat.
A Monday showdown at Hall Road between third-placed hosts and table-topping visitors ended in a 1-1 deadlock.
Striker Dom Lawless fired Rovers ahead against his former club five minutes before the break.
But his 14th goal of a prolific campaign was quickly cancelled as Pagnell levelled on the stroke of the interval.
Neither side could find the net again in a second period in which Eynesbury created the better chances. Tom Coles spurned the best of them in the closing stages.
“It was an evenly matched game between two good teams,” said Ducket. “And it was nice to see a crowd of more than 150 people turn out to watch it.
“Pagnell are top of the league for a reason. They are strong, physical and grind out results.
“The fact we ended their perfect start is a positive, but we know we could easily have taken three points.
“We’ve conceded too many poor goals this season and there was another example of that tonight.
“Pagnell are certain to be up there all season if they can hold onto that team, but we still have lots of work to do. We’re not in great form so it’s encouraging to be in the position we are in.
“We’ve not clicked as a team yet and that’s something which needs to happen sooner rather than later if we’re going to stay in contention at the top of the table.”
Eynesbury are in the thick of a hectic spell of fixtures. They thumped Boston Town at Hall Road last Tuesday when Declan Rogers and Lawless both struck twice. Substitute Craig Smith also bagged a late goal in a 5-0 win.
But they were disappointingly held to a 1-1 draw at Rothwell Corinthians last Saturday when defender Steven Gentle’s opener was cancelled out by the hosts.
Eynesbury are back on home turf this Saturday when entertaining the only team to beat them in the Premier Division so far this season.
Daventry Town, who sit fifth, are the visitors to Hall Road and Ducket is keen to avenge a 3-2 loss in the reverse fixture last month.
Rovers then go to Northampton side Sileby Rangers on Tuesday when new signing Robert Hughes could come into the squad.
The midfielder has arrived from Yaxley and has won promotion at this level in the past with St Neots Town and King’s Lynn Town.
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