Dandy Town 1 St. George's 1

After half an hour if this had been a boxing match the referee would have stepped in to stop it.

St. George's were like a punch-drunk fighter who just did not know when it was in his best interest to stay down. Time and time again the boys in blue were pounded but time and time again they clung on like a no-hoper determined to reach the bell.

When Janeiro Tucker finally breached the goalline in the 35th minute it appeared that would be the blow that knocked what stuffing remained out of Neil Paynter's men.

But no. Try as they might Dandy Town could not kill off their bottom of the table opponents and like James `Buster' Douglas it was St. George's who delivered the sucker-punch with just one minute left.

On as a second-half substitute, Sinclair Gibbons swung his boot at a cross that should have been cleared to give his side a point they deserved if only for their dogged determination.

In fact, Gibbons could have delivered the ultimate blow with the last action of the match, heading over by inches after a teasing cross.

In truth, the Hornets only had themselves to blame for not finishing this match off long before Gibbons came on.

Within seconds of the start Seyoum Tuzo set the tone for the night when he volleyed into the welcoming arms of Troy Hall.

After nine minutes the same player bottled out of a confrontation when in a one on one with Hall and the `keeper got the better of him again soon after when he saved his low shot.

Devon Binns should have scored when given time and space eight yards out, but instead of hitting a first time shot he opted to control and Hall saved.

When Tuzo should have controlled and placed his shot after an excellent defence splitting pass from Binns in the 25th minute he chose to rush it and the ball went wide.

Janeiro Tucker then headed over when it seemed easier to score and then after finding himself ahead of the last man he hit a casual shot goalwards instead of a rasping drive and Hall saved again.

When the groundsman next comes in to work his wife should expect him home early as the action continued to be confined to the Gorham's end.

Reggie Tucker was the next to cause panic when he took advantage of Hall's slip to pounce on a loose ball on the edge of the area. However, in a comedy of errors both players then fell over as they tried to get possession and a defender was able to come in and clear.

But St. George's' charmed life came to an end when shortly after Janeiro Tucker scored with the only thing that had not connected with the ball before - the back of his head.

As the interval approached St. George's got their only chance of the half, but it was a Dandy Town player who did his best to convert it.

A defender redirected a pass in the penalty area and Jason Smith had to get down smartly to his left to stop the ball creeping in at the near post.

The second-half began in the same way as the first, Darren Simons rattling the St.George's crossbar after a neat pass from Reggie Tucker.

A smart piece of defending then prevented Janeiro Tucker from getting a second goal as he prepared to pull the trigger and Town threw in the towel from an attacking standpoint after that.

Sensing they could get something from the match St. George's came forward. Gibbons was introduced in the 62nd minute and when Dennis Maynard came on 14 minutes later the underdogs began to take control.

The pair gave warning on several occasions, but Town failed to heed them and so it was no surprise when Gibbons slid in the equaliser after a neat turn in the area. And if he had just been a fraction more accurate with Maynard's last gasp cross St. George's could have left a partisan crowd even more stunned than they did.

Dandy Town: J.Smith; L.Furbert, L.Christopher, M.Lowe, D.Binns (C.Hill, 79 mins), R.Douglas, K.Mundy (R.Swan, 85 mins), R.Tucker, S.Tuzo (D.Burchall, 68 mins), J.Tucker, D.Simons.

St. George's: T.Hall, D.Signor, N.Paynter, D.Bailey, M.Outerbridge, U.Fox, E.Signor, K.Williams, D.Wright, G.Foggo (D.Maynard, 76 mins), D.Robinson (S.Gibbons, 62 mins).

Booked: K.Williams (St. George's).

Men of the match: D.Binns (Dandy Town); G.Foggo (St. George's).

Referee: Stuart Crockwell.