London Colney battled to a 1-1 draw at home to Hillingdon Borough in the South Midlands Premier Division on Saturday.

Dan Cohen started in goal and had to be quick off his line early in the game to block a shot from Mark Chijindu with his legs.

In the Blueboys’ first attack Jimmy Hill found time and space to drill in a low shot which the visitors’ keeper Mikey Pearce just managed to hold onto whilst a Greg Shaw free-kick went whistling just past the far post.

Hillingdon took the lead after 23 minutes when a curling corner kick from Gary Edwards found Chijindu unmarked at the far post and he headed the ball past Cohen.

It was nearly 2-0 when Rob Byron burst into the box but Cohen made a smart save to his right and pushed the ball away for a corner kick.

Jason Beck had an effort saved following a nod down from Hill and this proved to be his last chance of the match as he was taken off and Sean Ridgeway came on, with Spencer Clarke-Mardel pushing forward.

The Blueboys drew level five minutes before the break when a curling free-kick into the box saw Tom Smith head the ball powerfully into the net.

Hillingdon started strongly in the second half and a mistake at the back saw Franisco Caro pounce onto a poor backpass. After going around Cohen he had a simple task off putting the ball into the back of the net but, luckily for the Blueboys, he shot wide.

London Colney had another let off when Chijindu tried a cross-cum-shot which sailed over Cohen’s head and the ball hit the foot of the far post and came back out.

Martin Collins then had a low drive blocked by Pearce’s legs whilst a shot from Clarke-Mardel was also kept out by defender on the line.

New Blueboys signing Yashir Rashid, who was making his debut, also went close when his low shot went just wide and Davey had a shot blocked.

But the home team suffered a setback when they were reduced to ten men after Greg Shaw was sent off after receiving two yellow cards late in the game.

Hillingdon thought they had stolen the points when a long-range shot from Jake Owen hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced down on the line.