There is a strange atmosphere of unreality to BWFC games. The elephant in the room or here sitting in the away stand is administration.
Surprisingly Neil tinkered with a defence which had done well enough at Hull moving Holding to the right and Moxey left. There was no place for Casado presumably still in the naughty corner.
The opening goal was way too easy. Spearing pressed,Vela not watching his man,Holding too narrow.There were oceans of space and the 18 year old ' s straight shot went through Amos - the fifth goal in succession he could have saved - this time by using his feet.
We settled down a bit. Prince in the wrong position nevertheless made two sliding stops.
In and amongst the defensive frailty we were playing the ball around well. Heskey was winning everything and Clough pressed tirelessly.
Then calamity. Vaz Te skinned Moxey who was too far away and easily passed ( Casado might have done better?)
The ball was half cleared but no one reacted and we were two down. We had no defensive midfield. Vela at this point was all over the place and losing the dangerous and experienced Jackson constantly.
Feeney was as ever quite awful until after a good pass from Vela he wriggled too and fro and fired a perfect left cross on to the boot of Heskey for a hope giving goal
We had a good period. And then Vela hit a skimming shot from the D identical to so many we have conceded and in so doing reminded us of Charlton ' s poor defence
We began to play quite well and here and there a quiet Davies had a run or two. Spearing battled well but struggled in possession. Heskey and Clough got better and better.
After a bright start in the second half Charlton had a good period and we're on top. But they replaced their teenage shooting sprinter with the towering goalless Dane and played into Wheater and Prince's strengths.
It was unlucky for Vela that he fell injured but the luck we needed. Danns replaced him and our midfield problems vanished. Vela had been drifting in and out. I had hoped he could be subbed off beforehand but not for the first time injury forced Neil into a better formation. We had a scare from the free kick as the towering Dane fluffed an easy chance and hit the bar after a bounce.
In the remaining time Clough had great chances for a hat trick. He tried to place a shot which ended weakly, he missed a volley and he fired crisply and narrowly wide...but they were good misses. He was a real threat and entirely changed our fortunes just by being there. His partnership with first Heskey and then Madine was what we have lacked all season
A good draw, a flicker on on field hope. Let's hope it's not now extinguished off the field