LUFFS 2 KENILWORTH 2 (17/4/04) STILL The Luffs and Kenilworth go neck and neck for the finishing line, a draw not good for Loughborough the league still shows three points in it with Loughborough two to play and Kenilworth three to play the Warwickshire side have to loose at least two games while The Luffs would have to win two. If the two sides finish on level points then Loughborough would edge it on the averages system. Calculations which should have been so different as twice Loughborough took the lead and indeed lead with five minutes to go but it wasn't to be. Manager Geff Green showed he means business signing three new players including a new keeper in Philip Godfrey and two new midfield players in Lee Thomas and Neil Grant and it so very nearly did the trick. The Luffs absorbed some early pressure but looked solid in defence and it wasn't long before Steve Rudge warmed the hands of the visiting keeper Steve Taylor. For a while Kenilworth looked to have the edge but they couldn't break down the Loughborough side and as the tables turned the Luffs cashed in. Adam Nelson left the Kenilworth defence for dead and was on his way to score when he was brought down in the area and got up to despatch the penalty with no bother at all. Kenilworth replied almost immediately with a deep cross and Paul Miller couldn't believed his good fortune as he headed unchallenged past the stranded Godfrey it was 1-1 and it all began again. Godfrey was down at full stretch to save and for a while Loughborough were forced to defend but again the tables turned and Adam Nelson went clear on Taylor but this time the keeper came off best, it was a chance that went begging. Shortly before the break Loughborough's new signing Neil Grant turned his marker and shot just past the post, but the teams went in level pegging. In the second half Loughborough's skipper Gareth Rogers led by example and a penetrating run down the middle saw his shot go just past the post. Rudge hit a cracking shot destined for the top corner but Taylor flew through the air to tip it round the post. Rogers powered his way through the Kenilworth defence but with only the keeper to beat chipped the ball over the bar it was now Loughborough on the ascendancy and Nelson signalled his intentions whacking one into the side netting. The next Adam Nelson shot was the one that counted from a tight angle he found the bottom corner to make it 2-1 with just five minutes to go. Five precious minutes with Kenilworth looking as if they had shot it but the visitors found some extra verve in those dying minutes and went looking with intent for the equaliser. Just when it looked as if The Luffs had done it Chris March let fly with a cracking shot, Godfrey stopped it but couldn't hold it and as defenders swung to clear the ball bounced agonisingly over the line, it was drama of the worst kind. There was no time left for either side to look for the winner but the draw favoured Kenilworth in the league positions and they were rightly pleased with the share of the points while The Luffs showed their disappointment in being so close. It's not over, as they say, till the fat lady sings but it is very close, Saturday sees the Luffs with no game but they travel to Cadbury Athletic on the Tuesday evening (6.30 kick off) and then return to The Drome on May 1st for their last game against Thimblemill (kick off 2.45 PM). It could be all over and done with by then, but Kenilworth's last game is the Tuesday after and who knows what fate has got in store for Loughborough's battlers. TEAM:  Phil GODFREY, Rob NEWBOULT, Danny BRAILSFORD, Matt WATKISS, Sean HOGAN, Gareth ROGERS, Adam BARRIGAN, Steve RUDGE, Adam NELSON, Lee GRANT, Neil THOMAS   SUBS:  Tom BELTON, Michael MULLIGAN, Edmir LIKAJ SCORERS:  Adam NELSON (2) ATT: N/A HT: 1-1