DANBURY --- They are resilient, those Ancients.

For the fourth time in their eight matches this season, and third time in their past four, the Wilton Ancient Warriors fell behind early only to claw back for a late score and avoid defeat at Danbury.

This time in the late going, it was Michael Schneidman collecting a loose ball inside of midfield with just a moment to catch the eye of Andrew Allers, who finally found space behind the defense to run onto a well timed through ball, easily sidestep the Keeper and poke home Wilton’s only score of the game at 82 minutes.

A sure relief to the Ancients who spent the better part of the afternoon struggling to find a rhythm and, excepting the game tying goal, could not create any meaningful chances.

From the start, this scuffle vs. Danbury took on a very different profile than the 5-1 drubbing handed them by the Warriors in Cup play just two weeks prior. On this occasion, the home side had the Ancients on their heels, but suffered from their own misgivings, misfiring on goal at least six times in the first half.

With Danbury thoroughly enjoying the majority of possession, Wilton was lucky to concede only one goal which came at 34 minutes off a low, hard cross Danbury was able to outstep the Wilton defense and punch into the lower left corner of the Warriors net.

Compounding their inability to earn possession of their own, Wilton also faced a steady wind in the first half which served to keep the long-ball at bay whenever they attempted to clear their way out of trouble in their own end. As the first half whistle sounded Wilton was lucky to be just one goal down and hoped the break and switch of sides would signal a change in fortunes going into the second half.

Perhaps not. At least not right off.  Straight from the second half start, Danbury easily broke through the Wilton defense only to be turned away by Keeper, Mark Isaacs. After 15 minutes, Wilton would find their pace, but not the chances.  Play evened and the Ancients touch improved as they found success on the wings with Nick Slater and Ferenc Kiss able to more frequently get deep into Danbury territory. Greg Gryglewski and William O’Herron turned momentum in the midfield and Tom Parsons proved nearly impenetrable at center back.

With time fading after Allers’ equalizer, Danbury’s striker managed to break behind the Wilton defense. Isaacs bravely rushed to the top of his area to close on the approaching attacker who mindfully chipped over him. This time the wind worked in the Ancients favor as the flight of the ball was clearly altered and met the left post and cleared from danger by Parsons, rather than bounding in for a heartbreaker.

That’s where it ended. Sometimes the wind blows in your direction, sometimes against. On this day Mother Nature was both an adversary and ally, all within the space of 90 minutes, as the Warriors escaped with another draw.

Wilton's defense deserves an honorable mention having played with only three at the back for much of the second half.  Recognizing the need to score, Parsons sent sweeper Piotr Bierezowiec forward to provide extra attack for the last 30-35 minutes.  Even a man down in defense, Wilton was able to keep the sheet clean second half, setting up the draw.

For the moment, Wilton drops to second on the table by just one point and will play their final match of the Fall season as host to Greenwich Puma on Sunday, 11/1. Kick off is 10am at Lilly Field.