Hillingdon Borough coach Jason O'Connor declared himself satisfied with a point against second-placed Oxhey Jets, despite being denied victory by the league's top scorer Lewis Putnam.
Putnam is nearing 60 strikes for the campaign and showed why here as he struck in the second period to snatch a point for the visitors.
“If you had given me a draw before the game, I would have taken it,” said O'Connor, “But the longer we went on, the more I thought we could snatch it.”
Hillingdon came into the match on a run of three wins in four and were certainly the dominant team in the first-half.
The home side were dictating play and had a succession of chances to take the lead.
First Murray Williamson could not react quick enough when the ball came to him from a free kick then Jamie Houliston headed over after a cross from Harry Wright.
However, the home side's pressure eventually told before half-time. A cross by Kyle Matthews was only cleared as far as Wright who advanced into the area and hit a left foot shot in off the post.
The second half began at a much more slower pace than the first. Oxhey's performance was subdued and they were frustrated in their attempts to gain a foothold in the game due to the excellent work of Hillingdon's midfield trio who disrupted their possession, giving their opponents little time on the ball.
But Oxhey finally managed to work their way back into the game and they forced an equaliser seven minutes from time. After Hillingdon failed to clear their lines, the ball was passed through to Putnam who rifled home his fifty-ninth goal of the season.
Given the return fixture in September was O'Connor's first game in charge along with manager Sam Hurrell (pictured), the game allowed him to reflect on the progress made.
“The last time we played Oxhey, we were five-nil down at half time,” said O'Connor. “So to get a result like this just shows how far we've come. We're playing well and hoping to take that form forward.”
