BGB SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE – MIDLANDS Chasetown 0 Soham Town Rangers 0 SOHAM produced one of their best performances of the season on Saturday, as they earned a share of the spoils against third-placed Chasetown. The hosts started well and Aaron Tu

BGB SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE - MIDLANDS

Chasetown 0 Soham Town Rangers 0

SOHAM produced one of their best performances of the season on Saturday, as they earned a share of the spoils against third-placed Chasetown.

The hosts started well and Aaron Turner cleared off the line when Gary Birch threatened to open the scoring following an eighth minute corner, but Soham had a luckier escape soon afterwards.

Birch was left in the clear with only goalkeeper Lea Jordan to beat, but lobbed his effort wide of the post.

Adam Weston fired straight at the goalkeeper when presented with Soham's first real chance after 20 minutes, whilst at the other end Jordan saved with his legs from Dan Smith's shot.

Chasetown lost Adie Smith through injury on the half-hour mark, but continued to press for the opener and Jordan blocked yet another effort from the dangerous Birch.

The same player then had a 'goal' ruled out for offside in the closing minutes of the first half, and Soham were let off the hook again in stoppage time.

Jordan failed to gather the ball following a free-kick from the edge of the area, and Parsons somehow contrived to lift his shot over the bar from point-blank range.

At the start of the second period it was Soham who made the running however, and Chasetown 'keeper Ryan Price was called into action on several occasions.

Turner - who had been cautioned at the end of the first half - saw his 25-yarder tipped over the bar, and from the resulting corner Stuart Williams had his effort blocked by Price.

Billy Smith - still looking for his first Greens goal - was then denied by another fine save, and Paul Jones - making his 100th appearance for Soham - fired straight at Price after good work by Andy Furnell and Scott Carter.

Chasetown created a few half chances themselves after that, but the visitors continued to look dangerous and Price was still kept busy.

Birch was again in the thick of the action for the home side towards the finish, but after firing over the top twice he was denied a last-gasp winner by Jordan's low fingertip save.

"It was a good result for us," said Rangers boss Ian Benjamin afterwards, adding: "In the second half we played well and had more clear cut chances than them.

"The game was about the way we defended in the first half, and we've got a bit more pace about the squad this season.

"As a club we're moving forward," concluded Benjamin. "Who would have thought a few years ago that we would be playing the likes of Chasetown, Cambridge City and Farnbourough in successive games?"

Having faced local rivals Cambridge City in the GX League Cup on Tuesday night, Soham entertain Southern League Premier Division leaders Farnborough in the Second Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy this Saturday.

They then face two successive league matches away from home - at Marlow the following Tuesday, and at Bromsgrove Rovers on the Saturday.

Goalkeeper Sean Greygoose - who has yet to play a competitive game for the Greens since joining from Bury Town - has gone to Newmarket Town on loan, whilst midfielder Stuart Ablett has joined Soham from Wisbech Town. He made his debut as substitute in Saturday's draw at Chasetown.