Otterbourne 3 Stockbridge 3.

In a highly entertaining game Stockbridge drew 3-3 with fourth placed Otterbourne.

Stockbridge welcomed back striker Ashley Childs who had an impressive afternoon causing problems for the home defence for the whole match and he gave the Robins an early lead when he forced the ball home from a corner on the left.

Ten minutes later the home side hit the Stockbridge woodwork twice before Tom Richards found the back of the net to level the scores.

On the half hour Childs went close again but Marc Cole in the home goal saved well then a minute before the break the keeper saved from a Jazz Beavis free-kick.

With only two minutes of the second half gone Otterbourne’s Richards chipped into an empty net after a mix up giving the visitors the lead but it did not last long when after some good work by Beavis, Childs cleverly chipped the home keeper.

Soon after only a brave save by the home keeper stopped Stockbridge going into the lead again when he stopped a shot from Lee Hamilton, struck with such venom that the keeper had to receive treatment on his hand.

With 25 minutes to go Robins’ keeper Dan Kempson pulled off a superb save to keep Stockbridge on level terms and at the other end Jordan Brown went close before Nathan Rae scored for Stockbridge to give them the lead once again.

Robins nearly went further ahead soon after when a superb cross from the left was met by Childs but his header went just past the far post.

Otterbourne were awarded a penalty after a foul by defender Gavin Burgess but the ensuing attempt struck the bar. Their equaliser came soon after when Kempson had no chance from a Richards’ thunderbolt.

Dave Cotter’s late effort was deflected round the post but Stockbridge can take a lot from this game where they showed much more passion than they have for the last few games.

Stockbridge are home to Liphook United tomorrow.