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League-cup semi-finalists, Surrey Rangers, were always going to be a difficult team to beat, especially when the home advantage was lost because of a waterlogged Beddington Park. Poor finishing put a dent in Merton's promotion challenge as two valuable points were dropped. Inside two minutes Craig Stanley was put clean through, but the final shot was driven wide of target as the keeper came out to narrow the angle. Merton then weathered some pressure from a pacy Rangers forward line showing a very direct style of play. Chances, however, were at a premium, but the Merton midfield eventually released Julian Osei-Gyimah goalwards. The striker managed to get in a shot, but it was straight at the keeper. The game was evenly contested and a pleasure to watch, but five minutes before the interval there was a hiatus in play due to some melodrama on the line. Almost immediately afterwards, Rangers took the lead following a scramble in penalty area. The ball was buried from fairly close range after the Merton defence failed to get the ball away. Merton nearly conceded another a couple of minutes later when the centre backs left a loose ball to be fielded by Warren McCourt. The keeper, however, remained rooted to the goal-line and a Surrey forward stole in to send a shot crashing against the underside of the cross bar.

Merton improved in the second half and quickly created several chances. A furious attack down the left played in Julian Osei-Gyimah, but his shot did not trouble the keeper. Rangers came back strongly and the play was camped in Merton territory for an uncomfortable five minutes. Both sides then enjoyed a fair amount of possession, but Merton gradually gained the ascendancy in midfield with Nicholas Holley working particularly hard. Daniel Johnson and Jamie Streat then created a golden opportunity for Julian Osei-Gyimah who made short work of a defender and the keeper, but shot so weakly that a defender was able to get back and clear the ball off the line. This was followed by a superb effort from Louis Barron-Pell that just went the wrong side of the far post. It was all Merton now, and next Nicholas Holley went very close with a powerful long-range shot that cleared the angle by a matter of inches. Rangers fought their way back into the game and edged the play for a period but could not penetrate a resolute Merton defence. Ten minutes from time Merton deservedly equalised when Nicholas Holley scored with a looping long-range shot that dropped into the bottom left-hand corner of the net after following a parabolic trajectory. Shots at goal were at a premium after this as both teams closed down space, but a moment of heated controversy arose five minutes from time when the referee failed to see a handling offence by the Rangers keeper outside the penalty area. In the end a draw seemed a like a fair result, but in reality poor finishing deprived Merton of maximum points. Elsewhere fellow promotion contenders Hanworth Villa and Carshalton Athletic each claimed six points, three for an easy victory and another three for a walk over.

Reporters man of the match: Nicholas Holley.

Team: Warren McCourt; Adam Marie, Lewis West, Jonathan Kehoe, Spud Bradley; George King, Jamie Streat, Daniel Johnson, Nicholas Holley; Craig Stanley, Julian Osei-Gyimah. Sub: Tshepho Sawdon, Louis Barron-Pell.