“We have to be a little relieved to come away with 0-0,” said Cribbs manager Richard Luffman after his side’s goalless draw against Evesham United.
The South Gloucestershire based outfit played the entirety of the second half with 10 men after Ross McErlain was sent off in the 43rd minute.
Evesham also had a man sent off after Michael O’Regan received a second yellow for a foul midway through the second half.
In a game that was dominated by horrendous weather conditions, Cribbs gaffer Luffman reflected on a draw from a game which could have seen his side go into the Southern Division One playoffs for the first time.
The Cribbs manager said: “the weather has been something that we always struggle with around this time of year, over the last two seasons our worst form has always been around now.
“I remember the Malvern game two seasons ago in November where we got beat 3-0 or 3-1 up here, and then we lost 1-0 again last year.
“We always struggle in these conditions when the pitches are decent underneath and slick on the top, it suits the really good footballing teams, not to say that we’re not one of those but we are a little bit different to that.”
Cribbs sat in eighth going into the tie with Evesham in 18th so despite only being promoted to the Southern League Division One last season, Cribbs came into the tie as marginal favourites.
“I think we probably felt a bit of pressure coming into this evening, being expected to win the game” said Luffman.
“I think before the game we would’ve probably been disappointed not to climb into the playoffs in this early stage as it was an opportunity for us.
“Whilst there is a long way to go it would’ve been nice little thing for the club to have gotten in there once this season.
“Although we were relieved to get the 0-0, they hadn’t had loads and loads of chances so it was probably a fair result on the whole.”
After winning the Hellenic Division last season, you’d be forgiven for thinking that survival would be the objective for Cribbs in a new division.
But the ambition of the Bristolian side is clear from their defensive record, conceding only eight goals so far this term which is the best in the whole league.
Even after central defender McErlain was sent off, Cribbs were able to earn their sixth clean sheet of the season in all competitions.
Luffman said: “We lost a centre half so we decided to make the change to bring Reece on and we brought a midfield player off because we felt Harris [Feltham] was having a good game on the night.
“On most occasions you take your attacker off to keep the balance of the side right but we felt Feltham was using the ball well on a pitch that was difficult.
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“We lost our 10 and went to a flat four across midfield and played with an almost false nine and that continued even when they had ten men to be honest with you.
“By that point we were comfortable just to soak it up but we are delighted for another clean sheet.”
