Gravesend & Northfleet 0 Basingstoke Town 0

A SUPERB display of defending by Basingstoke Town earned them a point at title-chasing Gravesend and Northfleet on Saturday.

The visitors lost top defender Jason Bristow with a twisted knee after 38 minutes of the contest but gave Steve Baker a first start since the beginning of September, when he ruptured his achilles tendon at Enfield. Chris Honor was not risked because of a knee injury.

The opening 45 minutes was best forgotten with few clear cut-chances although Town won the corner count 4-1.

The first real chance came on 27 minutes as a Paul Wilkinson cross fell to Mike Davis and his snap-shot moved in the air but home goalie Jamie Turner got behind the ball to make the save.

After Bristow was carried off, Town were forced to re-shuffle their line-up, with Wilkinson moving into the back four and Stuart Girdler coming on in midfield.

Just as the half came to a close, Wilkinson's cross saw Aaron Bennett beat Jason Eaton to the ball and head away for what looked a certain goal.

For the start of the second half, forward Simon Parker came on for defender Matt Lee as the home side stepped up their search for an opening goal.

They piled on the pressure but Town struck to their guns, defending really well and letting them have few clear-cut chances.

On 52 minutes, the impressive Jimmy Jackson sent in a home cross which Craig Wilkins headed wide. Soon after, Jackson again provided the cross but Darren Smith shot across the face of the goal.

On the hour, Town had their only real chance of the half as Baker's cross hit the crossbar, which put off Rob Cook and he was unable to head the ball goalwards.

Gravesend hit back and another Jackson cross saw Robert Owen head wide when he should have done better.

With Scott Tarr commanding his area well all game, his only real save came on 74 minutes as he saved with his feet from Booth.

As the game came to a close, the ball pinged around the penalty area with substitute Liam Hatch shooting wide and the home side had to settle for a draw.

Their disappointment was softened with the news that leaders Canvey Island had lost 2-1 at Grays, which meant Gravesend had closed the gap at the top to just one point with a game in hand.

Manager Ernie Howe said: "We played with pride and put in a lot of effort, which was pleasing to see as I have been critical of that in the past when we have played away.

"They needed to win and came at us and I think we defended well and will have gained a lot of confidence out of this game."

Gravesend: Turner, Lee (sub Parker 45min), Burton, McKimm, Barnett, Duku, Smith, Owen, Wilkins (sub Hatch 65min), Stadhart (sub Booth 73min), Jackson.

Basingstoke: Tarr, Baker, Forbes, Bristow (sub Girdler 38min), Wilkinson, Lisk, Davis (sub Howes 69min), Cook, Eaton, McAllister (sub Gorman 76min), Hayfield.