The 1st Team put in a well below par performance against a hard working Sandridge side and came away with just a point and might consider themselves lucky it was as much as that!

Manager Steve King had pretty much a full squad to choose from for the first time this season with players back from suspension, but too many key players just didn’t perform on the day. 

Baldock started brightly though and the first 25 minutes was played almost entirely in the Sandridge half.  However, for all the possession and all the numerous corners and free kicks in the final third, Baldock failed to test the home keeper.  It was the lack of quality that will worry King as Baldock endeavour to win the league and push up the ladder.

It wasn’t until 35 minutes when full back Nicky Stilwell found himself pushing forward and after charging down the goalkeeper’s clearance, the ball cannoned in off his elbow for a slightly fortuitous opening goal and this seemed to spark Town into life. 

No more than a minute later Stilwell was through one-on-one and the usually composed right back somehow blazed over from eight yards.  Baldock continued to press but the half time whistle came too soon and unfortunately Town didn’t start the second half how they finished the first!

Little or no quality all over the park from Baldock gave the home side confidence and they duly scored from a free kick on the hour mark.  Half the Baldock defence lunged in to give the free kick away and Farmer in goal will be disappointed the ball flew past him to level the score. 

A few minutes later Baldock were trailing as more lacklustre play and poor defending meant the ball was never properly cleared and the Sandridge centre forward couldn’t miss from six yards out.

After the introduction of Neil Smith and Steve Morgan with 15 minutes to go, the visitors finally began to ask a few questions and they got their rewards with a late equaliser from a corner.  A neat Rob Beckwith flick at the near post was met by the diving Neil Smith to earn a share of the spoils. 

If the game had gone on for a little longer Baldock would surely have stolen the points – but it was too little too late on a very forgettable afternoon at Sandridge.

1st Team:  Farmer, Stilwell, Beadsworth (Smith), Lowden, N.Morgan, Beckwith, Rogers, Skelton, Turner, Woodley(S.Morgan), Gregson.