Basingstoke Town 2 Heybridge Swifts 2

BASINGSTOKE Town were denied a win in their final league match at the Camrose this season when Akpo Sodje netted a 90th minute equaliser for the visitors.

Sodje was on hand to tap in from six yards after Town 'keeper Scott Tarr, diving to his left, could only palm Paul Abrahams' shot into the striker's path.

In their battle against relegation from the Ryman premier, the goal and subsequent point was greeted with glee by the Essex side.

But Town were left to count the cost of Craig McAllister's missed 76th-minute penalty.

Leading 2-1, the spot-kick was awarded after a Neville Stamp set-piece broke to Alex Ewin, who was held back by defender Kelly John-Pollard when clean through.

However, McAllister's kick was poor and rebounded back off the left post, presenting Heybridge the chance to get something from the match when it should have been sealed.

Blues boss Ernie Howe said afterwards: "Craig should have scored, but he approached it very nonchalantly.

"It's annoying but, after the season he has given us, I am not going to be too critical.

"I thought Heybridge deserved something from the game as they kept at it. They got a point and it could be a saving one.

"We wanted to win it because it was our last home game, but it's gone the same way as our first match of the season against Aylesbury.

"We were 2-1 up, they were down to 10 men as well and got a late equaliser."

Town took the lead in the 12th minute. Stamp's corner was headed on by McAllister - only for Roach to have his shot blocked on the line.

The rebound fell for Ewin to lash home with his left foot into the roof of the net.

Tarr was called into action to repel two fine efforts from Sodje, while Kevin Gibbens' marauding run and pass ended up with David Ray's 25-yard drive being tipped away by Darren Placid.

Just two minutes after the re-start, Town were caught cold and Heybridge equalised when Abrahams headed home James Window's cross.

After Gibbens had gone close, volleying just over, Town went ahead in the 59th minute.

A throw-in from Ian Dickens was challenged for and won by Ricky Allaway on the right edge of the box. The ball broke for supporter's player of the year, Neville Roach, who, from an impossible angle on the by-line, produced a blistering strike that flew in.

His manager Howe enthused: "It was a blinding goal. I was at the Manchester United-Real Madrid game on Wednesday and saw Ruud van Nistelrooy try something similar but the 'keeper saved it. Roachy's power in his shot meant it flew in."

The half really came alive as Heybridge battled back. Sodje hit the bar with a header but the task looked beyond them when Daniel Barber scythed down Roach one time too many and was sent off on 73 minutes.

Then came McAllister's missed penalty before Sodje's final contribution at the death.

Basingstoke Town: S Tarr, I Dickens, N Stamp, K Gibbens, S Hemmings, R Allaway, D Ray (sub N Wallace 64min), G Howes, C McAllister, N Roach, A Ewin. Subs not used: A Millerick, J Bristow, J Graham.

Heybridge Swifts: D Placid, D Hadrava, D Barber, L Kersey, K John-Pollard, A Gillespie (sub A Tomlinson 56min), N Cousins (sub S Lovett 87min), L Hunter, A Sodje, P Abrahams, J Window. Subs not used: D Streetley, M Dignam, T Bruce.