When the away fans filed into Larchfield's Copper Road ground more than an hour before kick-off, the stands were still empty and the groundstaff were forking the goalmouths. By the final whistle, around 900 travelling supporters were the only people still singing. Wrenhaven Athletic came from a goal down to beat Larchfield 2-1 and move within two points of the top of the National First Division.
For long spells it did not look likely. Larchfield pressed high, won most of the second balls and went ahead after 31 minutes when their striker Ruben Kask turned in a low cross at the near post. The Wrens managed one shot on target before the break, a tame effort from distance that barely troubled the goalkeeper.
Changes at the break
Head coach Marta Oyelaran switched to a back three at half-time and sent on the 19-year-old winger Tobias Grant. The adjustment took a while to show. Grant's first two crosses were cleared, but his third, after 71 minutes, found captain Joel Fairbairn arriving late at the far post to head in the equaliser. Nine minutes later, substitute midfielder Kofi Mensah-Hale picked up a loose clearance 25 metres out and drove it inside the left post.
We were second best for 45 minutes, and the players were honest enough to admit it in the dressing room.
Oyelaran was measured afterwards. She said the first-half performance had been "nowhere near our standard" and credited the squad for responding rather than the tactical change alone. "The shape helped, but the shape does not win headers," she said. "Joel did, and Kofi had the confidence to shoot when most players would have looked for a pass."
Larchfield's coach, Pieter Vos, felt his side had been punished for dropping too deep. "We stopped doing the things that gave us control," he said. "Against a team with their quality off the bench, you cannot invite pressure for half an hour."
The Wrens are unbeaten in their last seven league matches.
Fairbairn's header was his sixth goal of the campaign.
Wrenhaven host Ostbridge at Gull Lane next weekend.
The leaders, Velmont, drew at home earlier in the day, which is why the result carries extra weight. With Ostbridge next and a trip to Corran Bay after that, Oyelaran declined to talk about the table. "Ask me again when there are five games left," she said.