BMAFC 1st Team salvaged a 3-3 draw against rivals Papatoetoe, scoring in the dying minutes of each half in a hard fought battle at Te Puru on Saturday.

Following their Round 1 controversy, Papatoetoe were hungry to get the points back in this return fixture and BMAFC were expecting a torrid time on the field. As Papatoetoe applied the early pressure, so too the weather closed in and the early part of the match was played in a bitter cross-field wind and driving rain.

As the weather broke, Papatoetoe followed suit and opened up BMAFC to create their first goal. Beachlands responded with promising attacking raids of their own and a resultant corner saw an unmarked Matt Henney slot a simple goal at the near post to equalise - the defensive lapse costing Papatoetoe a valuable lead. With half time beckoning, a further period of quality football from Beachlands saw BMAFC take the lead through another set piece play. A free kick given within striking range saw the ball laid square to right back James Gibbs, who's powerful drive found the gaps and then the bottom right corner giving the Papatoetoe's goal keeper no chance of a save.

2-1 ahead at the break and the job was far from done for either side. Beachlands were again forced to defend for much of the opening exchanges of the second half but the visitors supplied Beachlands their opportunities to counter through a rising penalty count. Despite the vast bulk of ill disciplined challenges coming from Papatoetoe, the referee produced just the one yellow card for either team.

Papatoetoe leveled the game again before regaining the lead in a one-two punch which looked enough to sink the home side. Frustration levels rose and were in danger of once again weighing down a Beachlands side which hasn't responded well to adversity in recent weeks. However the urgency increased and so too did the opportunities against a tiring Papatoetoe. The conclusive strike came from Man of the Match Matt Henney as he netted his second for the game and salvaged Beachlands a point in the closing minute of the game.

A big thank you goes out to the supporters who braved the weather to witness the highly entertaining match!