Basingstoke Town 1, Weston-super-Mare 1

NEVILLE Roach's wonder goal ensured a point for Ernie Howe's men, but the Town manager felt his side should have gone on to take all three. Assistant boss Pete Peters hailed Roach's goal, the 20th league strike of a prolific season, as "the best I have ever seen him score".

Of the 319 attending at the Camrose on Saturday despite the England-Northern Ireland game, few could argue with Peters' sentiment or that Roach's goal would have graced the world stage.

Collecting the ball with his back to goal 30 yards out with a typical deft touch to bring the ball down, Roach held off the attentions of Bradley Thomas.

He swivelled and, spotting goalkeeper Ryan Northmore off his line, hit an instant dipping volley that soared into the top-left corner.

It sent the player, his team-mates and the Camrose into raptures, as well as Howe, who raced on to the pitch in delight.

He admitted afterwards: "It was a brilliant goal. His touch to set it up was fantastic and such a quality goal was just the thing we needed to get us going.

"Once we got the equaliser we played better and had a few chances in the second half we possibly should have done better with.

"We were lively and it was just a shame we couldn't get home players in on the little situations that happened."

It had looked as though Weston might inflict a double league defeat on Town, as their first half display was disjointed and they looked lethargic.

Howe changed the balance of the side to give Nigerian Uwa Ogbodo his first start and, on the evidence of his 45 minutes, he will have to do a lot more to earn a more permanent deal.

Weston went ahead on 15 minutes when Lewis Hogg's floated free-kick - given by referee Alex Valentino for a dubious foul against Ogbodo - was met 10 yards out by Matthew Rawlings.

The forward's looping header caught out a poorly-positioned Scott Tarr and went in the goal in exactly the same place Roach's effort would later.

By far the stronger side, Weston had two goals disallowed - one for an infringement on Tarr at the near post following a 29th minute corner, the other when Steve Crowe turned in Jon French's cross from an offside position.

Howe admitted the change he made at half-time was influential.

"I needed to do it and, to be fair, the lads are happier in a 4-4-2, but I made the alterations initially because David Stroud's absence left us without a natural left-sided player.

"I didn't want to play Nathan Stamp in there because I think he has suffered a bit for his versatility. I wanted to give Uwa a chance to show what he can do, so that's why I started the game with the line-up I did."

The system switch - and Roach's 69th minute goal - were the catalysts for a vastly-improved second-half display.

Roach, sub Adam Wallace, who replaced Ogbodo at half-time and was a busy addition to the proceedings, and Cristian Levis, again better at right wing than up front, enjoyed far more freedom.

The midfield's passing was far better, slicker and incisive. German De La Vega, who had a poor first half, notably improved.

But there was to be no winner for Town and Howe, who reflected: "The draw was probably fair and we're still only four points off the play-offs and Eastbourne and after their draw with Sutton."

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Mark Paterson, David Ray, German De La Vega, Sergio Torres, Cristian Levis, Neville Roach, Uwa Ogbodo (sub Adam Wallace 45min). Subs (not used): Nathan Stamp, Jamie McClurg, Liam Castle, Ricky Allaway.

First published: Tuesday, March 29, 2005