NEVILLE Roach picked up Basingstoke Town's supporters' player-of-the-season award and promptly served up a man-of-the-match performance in Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Heybridge Swifts.

The 24-year-old, a recent trialist with Boston United, got his name on the scoresheet for good measure - his 25th goal of a marvellous campaign for the former Reading, Southend and Oldham forward.

Even though the draw keeps Stoke in fifth position in the Ryman Premier Division, they were annoyed at conceding an equaliser in the third minute of added time.

But, for Heybridge, the point came like mannah from heaven as they bid to beat the drop to Division 1.

Basingstoke edged ahead after 12 minutes through Alex Ewin and looked comfortable until two minutes after the break when they were caught cold by a Paul Abrahams equaliser.

Roach restored the lead with a fine angled shot in the 56th minute and then Heybridge went down to ten men when Darren Barker was sent off for fouling Stoke's star man.

Minutes later the Camrose Blues were awarded a penalty after Southampton-based midfielder Glenn Howes had been dragged down, but the normally lethal Craig McAllister saw his spot-kick rebound off the post, denying him his 34th goal of the season.

It was a miss the Bitterne hot-shot lived to regret as former Akpo Sodje, the former Gravesend & Northfleet striker, slid home the late equaliser.

Champions Aldershot Town also celebrated a goal from their player-of-the-year in the 6-2 hammering of Hendon - but, unusually, it was their keeper Nikki Bull.

Having fought back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2 through Paul Buckle, Dominic Stirling and Lee Holsgrove, Shots gave Bull his chance from the spot following a foul on Roscoe D'Sane.

Aaron McLean and Stafford Browne wrapped up victory for Terry Brown's Conference-bound side in front of a 3,419 crowd.

Shots will have the company of their near-neighbours Woking in the Conference next season. On a dramatic final day, ex-Saint Glenn Cockerill's side survived the drop with a 3-0 home win over Telford. Nuneaton and Southport took the plunge along with Kettering.