While battle was engaged at the Portway on Tuesday night both New Street and Whitchurch were in Wessex League action.

With both again having their games called off on Saturday the gap in the poor weather was a blessing as the Jam Boys travelled to Follands Sports where they had already tasted success this season in the Senior Cup.

Both teams had a man sent off in what at times was a fiery game but Whitchurch had Isaac Sedu to thank for the point in a 1-1 draw.

Manager Jim Macey was pleased with the performance saying: “A asked for a response after the Bemerton game and Matt Scott and Adam Pearson were awesome at the back and their passing from the back was excellent.

“They couldn’t cope with Sedu’s pace on what is a very decent surface and just before the break he challenged the keeper who took him out with a high kick and he was sent off.”

With regular penalty taker Luke Walker not playing Curtis Angell took the kick but watched the stand-in keeper save it then two minutes later Nic Tuirpin was also denied and they went in to the break all square with the Follands manager Danny Bowers threatening to keep his players off the pitch as a protest at some refereeing decisions.

The ten men took the lead on the hour but Whitchurch came back and after Turpin had missed from close range Pearson was ordered off for a second yellow card offence.

Two minutes later United levelled when Sedu again tormented the defence and scored with an angled drive.

Macey added: “We were on top but we will settle for that.”

His side travel to Newport IOW tomorrow then are at Alresford on Tuesday for their much delayed League Cup semi-final with Petersfield Town, for which both Scott and Turpin are cup-tied.

Meanwhile New Street went down 2-0 at home to Tadley Calleva and lost mick Oliver to a broken leg midway through the first half.

Manager Matt Styles said his side played “some of best football of our season”.

His side squandered chances with young Charlie Waite and Jack Hutchins going close before Tadley went ahead from the spot on the hour.

More chances went begging before the visitors wrapped the game up with a second. “It was a good performance but I am disappointed we ended up with nothing” added Styles.

New Street have no game tomorrow.

Kerry Miller