The Essex Bhoys gained a point at ACD United despite the hosts going down to 10-men with 20 minutes to play.

It was not the start of the game the visitors wanted, as Louis Robinson struggled to hear the call from keeper Woody Wells which allowed the hosts striker to steal a march on the confusion and place the ball into the net with just 3 minutes on the clock.

Catholic got back into the game and started to take control of the game and a Frank Craik shot was well saved but as James Warder followed up, he was brought down by the keeper leaving the ref no option than to award a spot kick. Warder stepped up to fire to the keepers left to draw the teams level just before the 15 minute mark.

The pressure continued for the visitors, with new signing Mekhi Charles-Armstrong crossing the ball from the left, with the post denying Jake Chaplin's header. Shortly after, Chaplin was cautioned for dissent.

The sides were level for less than 10 minutes, when ACD re-took the lead with a well taken left foot shot that gave Wells no chance. Two minutes later, the wind in their sails, the hosts missed a chance from close range, the ball bouncing over the bar.

Half Time: ACD Utd 2-1 Catholic Utd

With the weather deteriorating fast from the first half, the game turned into a war of attrition, as the surface turned slippery and the referee having to be at the top of his game to determine slips from fouls.

ACD were reduced to 10-men on the hour, a foul which had nothing to do with the conditions. With Craik on the left running to keep the ball in, the ACD player appeared to challenge with both feet off the ground, the red card awarded for an uncontrolled challenge.

Eight minutes later, parity was brought to the game as Aaron Clark scored his first goal for the club in 67 games, a right foot curled shot past the keeper after the ball presented itself to him from a fortuitous rebound off an ACD defender.

With the rain hammering down, there was only one side in it, but as much possession Catholic had in the remaining minutes, the hosts dealt with the pressure and bodies put on the line to ensure they eaked out a point under the direst of circumstances.