Town lack spark at Rase Park

Credit to Market Rasen for defending well but Town will feel this was an opportunity missed as their lack of creativity in the final third proved to be their undoing.

Danny Bent and Ben Fidling were restored to the starting line-up with Tom Hodson making his full debut as manager Paul Johnson utilised the squad at his disposal. There was also a welcome return to the squad for Mickey Stones but unfortunately he suffered a recurrence of his knee injury less than ten minutes after going on as a second half substitute. With leading scorer Michael Harness also sidelined through injury Town were somewhat depleted in the striking department but they took the initiative from the outset and played some decent football in the first half.

They almost took an early lead when Richard Jackson combined with Fidling but Ben's curling shot was just too high. Scott Lowman then headed over from a Tom Hodson corner before Tom saw his effort from a narrow angle saved by the keeper. Town continued to dominate possession with Ollie Johnson and Richard Jackson prominent in midfield and Ollie fired a free-kick just over the bar as a Town pressed.

Defensively Town were rarely trouble as the home side committed few men forward but Steve Brown and Chris Johnson were solid at the heart of the defence. Full-backs Steve Lovett and Nathan Rawdon instigated a lot of Town attacks with keeper William Wood able to throw the ball out at will as the hosts put everyone behind the ball. But despite some decent approach play, Town found it difficult to create many clear scoring opportunities with Scott Lowman just unable to gather Ollie Johnson's through ball as he looked to break clear.

The second half was somewhat scrappy with Town failing to play with the same fluency but when Steve Brown played the ball from the back he carried on his run before testing the keeper from twenty five yards. Mickey Stones was introduced on the hour for the hard working Bent and when Mickey turned the ball round the corner to Lowman, his low cross was turned goal wards by Ben Fidling but the ball was blocked. Shortly afterwards Ben was replaced by Carl Smith and he almost made an immediate impact as he cut inside two defenders before curling a shot towards the far post which the keeper did well to divert wide.

Moments later the home side created their only clear scoring opportunity as they latched onto a misplaced pass to play in their striker but he slashed the ball wildly over the bar. Keeper William Wood confidently held a well struck free-kick as Rasen enjoyed their best spell of the game but with Callum Low replacing the unlucky Stones, Town looked to grab a late winner. Nathan Rawdon cut inside before firing over with his left foot and Scott Lowman headed onto the roof of the net after a superb ball from Chris Johnson had picked out Carl Smith on the left.

With time running out Richard Jackson picked out Scott Lowman but a heavy first touch saw the chance go begging and Town had to settle for a disappointing draw. A clean sheet was pleasing and some of the football in the first half was good but whilst no-one had a bad game, Town lacked some much needed craft or guile in the final third and manager Paul Johnson will be hoping that top scorer Harness and wide man Robbie Fixter will be available for this Saturday's game at home to Hykeham Town in the Challenge Cup. Kick off on The Wong is at 2.30pm.

Town side:
William Wood, Nathan Rawdon, Steve Lovett, Steve Brown, Chris Johnson, Ollie Johnson, Tom Hodson, Richard Jackson, Danny Bent (Mickey Stones (Callum Low)), Scott Lowman, Ben Fidling (Carl Smith).