DIVISION ONE SOUTH AND WEST: Uxbridge 1 Cinderford Town 1

Improving Uxbridge came from behind to hold league leaders Cinderford Town to a draw and after a dodgy start they had enough chances to win the Honeycroft clash.

Mark Nicholls surprisingly missed from the penalty spot with the score at 0-0 and after Johnny Dyer came off the bench to find the net for the second game in succession, the Reds could have taken all three points had a Dave Lawrence effort gone in instead of finding the upright.

A draw was a decent result but at the same time it puts Uxbridge's poor start into perspective because these are the clashes they really have to win if they are to make up ground on the promotion-chasing teams.

Uxbridge were in all sorts of trouble early on as Scott Griffin hit the base of the post in the opening minutes, Jody Brown fired an even better chance over the bar from close range, Griffin shot wide and Jamie Powell was a whisker away.

The pressure was constant until Ryan Wharton flicked a header on to the top of the Town net and when Dan Heath needlessly fouled Kevin Warner, Nicholls should have made Cinderford pay.

However, Matt Bath saved his spot kick and the Uxbridge skipper could not convert the rebound either.

Four minutes from the interval the visitors took the lead. Wayne Carter's pass was intercepted, Jamie Powell raced clear and found Griffin, who turned the home defence inside out before prodding the ball home despite Wharton's attempt to save the day.

Bath denied Kevin Warner an equaliser before the break but after Heath wasted a chance to double the lead, Uxbridge cancelled it out.

Neil Davies placed a fine header just wide and 13 minutes from time Bath failed to cling on to Lee Tunnell's header from a David Thomas cross and Dyer pounced to send the ball into the top corner.

As Uxbridge went for broke Lawrence hit the post, a subsequent curling effort deflected narrowly wide and although Cinderford had Steve Cowe dismissed for a second caution, the Reds did not have enough time to make their numbers count.

Tony Choules's side is now unbeaten in five games and lying 13th, seven points off the play-offs. UXBRIDGE: McCarthy, Brown, Thomas, Wharton, Dickens, Carter (Dyer 55), Lawrence, K Warner, D Warner, Nicholls, Davies. Subs not used: Bernard, Reynolds, Browne.

Goals, Uxbridge: Dyer 77. Cinderford: Griffin 41. Attendance: 121.