Essex Senior League: London Bari 2 Hullbridge 2

London Bari had to settle for a draw after twice taking the lead against an industrious Hullbridge side at the Old Spotted Dog.

Kareem Richardson put the home side ahead after nine minutes, but they were pegged back early in the second half after Samy Abdellaziz’s skewed clearance found its way into the back of the net.

Joel Appiah restored Bari’s lead with a wonder strike that found the top right hand corner. But Hullbridge equalised in the dying minutes through Jimmy Cox after a goalkeeping error.

The game started with both teams battling for possession, with neither stamping their authority on the game.

Bari scored with the first chance of the game through Richardson who found himself unmarked in the six-yard box to tap in as the Hullbridge defence lost concentration and failed to deal with a pinpoint Babajide Sonupe cross.

Sports were unfortunate not to equalise after a Harry Skinner cross found Cox who headed powerfully towards goal, but Jamal Jimoh heroically cleared the ball off the line.

The away side continued to press for the equaliser and came close 15 minutes before half time through a Kurtis Clarke volley, but Wilkinson Boateng expertly saved down low to his right.

Bari were lucky to go into the break with their lead intact after the amount of chances Hullbridge had squandered.

And the home side improved after the break and should have doubled their lead after an error in the Hullbridge back line gave the ball to Appiah who cut back to Junior Decker, but he dwelled on the ball too long allowing Joe Turpin to recover.

Finally, Sports equalised 10 minutes into the second half after Abdellaziz’s sliced clearance from a Clarke cross looped into his own net.

The Old Spotted Dog outfit restored their lead on 69 minutes after Appiah intricately dribbled through the Hulbridge defence, cut inside on to his left foot and curled the ball into the top right hand corner.

London Bari had an opportunity to extend their lead after a Reece Brendan back pass fell short into the path of Appiah whose shot was well saved by Jamie Merrells.

The game looked to be playing out to a Bari victory until second-half substitute Brad Morgan drilled a cross into the box that bounced out of the clutches of Boateng and fell fortunately to Cox who fired into an empty net, claiming a deserved point for the away side.

Bari are due to host Enfield on Wednesday.

London Bari: Boateng, Abdellaziz, Isule-Mungu, Jimoh, Mpalampa, Richardson, Sonupe, Herrera (Abewaji 76), Decker, Appiah, Nunes (Wilcox 46). Unused subs: Koymen, Adebajo, Pedro.