The travelling Bears supporters were out of their seats cheering a 1-0 lead after only 9mins when Nathan Morris produced a goal to remember with one of his trade mark scuds.
South Cardiff fought back and in the 17th min they capitalised from a defensive error to level the scores at 1-1. The Gunners attacker who scored would have felt like Steven Badbury as 4 Bears defenders all slipped over when the ball went passed them to hand him a simple tap in.
Bears keeper Tim Pratt produced 2 excellent saves in the 30th and the 31st mins to keep the Bears on level terms.
Chris Cousins was again pushed up the park by Coach Mick Boogaard to cover the absence of regular striker Rhys Tippett who was returning from injury as a substitute. Cousins regularly finds the net when he is moved to striker and he almost did it again in the 41st min via a great glancing header that forced a wonderful save from the Gunners keeper. The resulting corner saw the Bears come close again but this time it was Luke Walker who put his attempt just wide and the score remained 1-1 for the half time break.
The 2nd half started with the Gunners pressuring the Bears defence and they should have taken the lead from a corner in the 54th min. The Gunners looked the more likely to score and they did just that in the 69th min to make the score 1-2.
The Gunners may have been on top but Boogaard had an ace up his sleeve, enter Rhys Tippett. Tippett came on for Tyson Fletcher and with one of his first touches had the Bears back in the match at 2-2. Nathan Morris was once again provider with a wonderful ball to Tippett who showed plenty of strength to out muscle 2 defenders and head past the Gunners Keeper in the 77th min.
The goal lifted the Bears and in the 80th min Rhys Tippett won the ball in a well contested challenge. Tippett then sent the ball to Jason Cowburn who played a great ball to Mick Ryan. Ryan continued onto goal but unfortunately his attempt was unsuccessful and the score remained at 2-2.
The counter attack was clearly the way South Cardiff felt best to break down the Bears defence and they did execute a successful counter in the 82nd min. Matt Toohey was the defender who was left to chase the goal bound attacker, Toohey made a last ditch attempted tackle and as a result bought the attacker down. The match official left many at the ground shaking their heads at many of his poor previous decisions but this time he was left with no option other than to show Toohey a straight red card. The resulting free kick sailed high over the bar and the score remained 2-2 when the referee called a stop to the game.
U/23's had yet another draw 1-1. Max Wallington was the goal scorer when he converted a penalty.
U/18's suffered a 0-2 loss.
The draw puts the Bears within 3 points of 4th spot and with 4 games without defeat the side will be full of confidence when they host undefeated League leaders Edgeworth Eagles next Sunday.
Gates open at 9:45am.
C'MON YOU BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
