Loughborough Uni FC have to settle for just two points over the Easter weekend

MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE LOUGHBOROUGH UNI FC 1 SHAWBURY 1

TALK about deja vu or Groundhog Day but Loughborough University walked off the pitch at the end of a very entertaining game against fellow strugglers Shawbury wondering just how they’d only got a point – a vital point nevertheless – when they should have been celebrating a win and eased the threat of finishing in the relegation places.

Unfortunately the regulars at Holywell Park had seen it all before and the coaching team in the Scholars dugout must have been as frustrated as the rest.

The Uni dominated possession in the first half but had nothing to show for it. Right back Luke Trotman was a constant threat down the right hand side for the Students but apart from a Ward-Cochrane effort which was blocked the home side lacked real fire power.

At the other end of the pitch the returning Danny Brenan made a big difference to the Uni back line and his commanding presence could help over the final games.

The second half started with the Uni on the attack with Brenan joining the forwards following a corner but his well placed header brought nothing more than a fine save.

In a breakaway the Students keeper Conor O’Keefe also pulled off a superb save from a headed effort but play was mainly in the Shawbury penalty area and how Uni couldn’t break the deadlock was a mystery. Shots were blocked, one effort cleared off the line and Elliot Legg, as impressive as ever, saw his effort rebound off the post.

Just as it seemed nothing was going right the Uni did score. A corner was only partially cleared and left back Alex Dinsmore picked up the ball at the edge of the box and hit a low angled drive into the corner of the net.

However, the Uni efforts seemed to have taken their toll and the visitors came back and had a great chance to level the scored when Brenan brought down a Shawbury forward leaving the referee no option than to award a penalty. However, once again O’Keefe covered himself in glory by pulling off an excellent save.

Uni again had chances to put the game beyond doubt but both Last and Crookes saw chances go high or wide.

Then with six minutes left a totally needless free kick was conceded and from the set piece Shawbury levelled to take a share of the spoils.

On Monday afternoon the Students picked up another point from an excellent 0-0 draw away at Coventry United and this Saturday have a local derby with Shepshed Dynamo as they search for the win to keep them above the line. The game at Holywell Park kicks off at 3pm.