Oakham United twice lose two-goal lead in 4-4 draw with Peterborough Polonia
Joint Oakham boss Stewart Lambie lamented his side’s lack of game management after they twice let a two-goal lead slip in Saturday’s high-scoring Peterborough League Premier Division draw at Polonia.
The Rutland side scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of the first half before being pegged back by half-time.
The same scenario then unfolded again after the break with Oakham taking a 4-2 advantage only for Polonia to score twice in the final 10 minutes to secure a share of the spoils.
Lambie said: “We dominated everything in the first 20 minutes and got ourselves 2-0 up, but then everyone decided it was too easy and kept pushing forward.
“They caught us out with two long balls to make it even at the break and then the exact same thing happened in the second half.
“We changed our formation with 10 minutes to go and went 4-5-1 to try and shut up shop, but everyone kept pushing forward trying to score a goal.
“They counter-attacked and scored twice more which was very frustrating. We should really have had the game won by half-time.
“We didn’t show any game management to see it out. We just wanted to attack all the time when we should have been more defensive.”
Oakham had opened their account for the afternoon inside the opening 10 minutes of the contest at the Nene Valley Community Centre.
Alex Brockbank, who had a superb game for the Rutlanders, sent a ball over the top for James North to latch onto and finish.
A second goal followed five minutes later when Kieron Burley – who was rewarded with a start after an impressive substitutes appearance in the FA Vase last week – crossed to North who back-heeled the ball to flick home.
Oakham then went in search of more goals which proved their undoing as Polonia struck twice before the break to level the contest.
Richard Nelson powered in from a corner to restore Oakham’s lead after the break before Steve Mastin fired home their fourth from the edge of the box.
However, Polonia took advantage of a scuffed clearance from goalkeeper Connor Barker to reduce the arrears before equalising with just two minutes remaining.
Lambie added: “It was definitely two points dropped and a step back after the performance last week in the FA Vase.
“It’s very frustrating and a missed opportunity because it would have stood us in good stead for the next games against Leverington and Holbeach.”
Oakham will welcome back Matt Richmond for Saturday’s home clash with Leverington while Ash Chamberlain is also in the squad after returning from travelling.
Sam Munton completes the final game of his three-match ban while recent recruit Anderson Uduovie was forced off at half-time on Saturday with a hamstring injury.
Oakham: Barker, Lambie, Kefford, R Nelson, Uduovie, Burley, North, Gooding, Brockbank, M Nelson, Mastin. Subs used: Lopes, Parker, Bates. Not used: Robertson.