Purfleet 0 Basingstoke Town 0 TOWN put their recent dismal run behind them to earn a good point at Purfleet. By no means a pretty game to watch, manager Ernie Howe was pleased with his side's battling performance and, more importantly, a clean sheet. The Camrose Blues had the performances of Scott Tarr, Stuart Girdler and new signing Matt Elverson to especially thank for that, stopping the rot that had seen Town ship 10 goals in their last three matches. Howe said: "Full credit has to go to the lads. They have battled and worked very hard. Most in the dressing room have the cuts and bruises to prove it. "I thought that Matt Elverson did very well. He hasn't had a game for a few weeks and was blowing a bit at the end but he and Stuart kept things tight and they got their head on the ball and put their foot in, as did everyone. "We have stopped the rot and it is a performance we can, and have got to, build on. "It wasn't a classic game but, after our recent run, it was important we got a result and, hopefully, we can now get some bodies back and start to build some confidence again." The match was a largely forgettable affair, with few clear-cut openings for both sides and dominated by long balls and little passing to feet. Elverson, signed from Hayes, brought a welcome vocal and solid presence to the back line and formed a useful partnership with Girdler and Jason Bristow. Tim Sills - who was playing through the pain of a knee injury - had the best of Town's chances. In the ninth minute he headed over following Jimmy Fraser's ball over the top and, 20 minutes later, headed straight at the 'keeper when Toby Sumner's 30-yard cross-field pass picked him out at the back post. But it was Tarr who was the busier of the two 'keepers. He pulled off some fine saves to thwart the efforts of Steve Marshall and Martin Buglione as Purfleet pressurised the Town defence. Jimmy Fraser and Efan Elad started to get into the game in the second period, Fraser pushing forward in the 65th minute and shooting over. A spell of four consecutive corners was the nearest Town got to a goal, Purfleet 'keeper Alex O'Reilly almost punching into the net on two occasions. In stoppage time at the other end, a whipped in free-kick from the ever-dangerous Jon Keeling caused the collective hearts on the Town bench to go into their mouths when it evaded the far post by inches. But a point apiece was the fair result after the lack of chances created in the final third. Purfleet: Alex O'Reilly, John Purdie, Jamie Southon, Dean Chandler, Jimmy McFarlane, Kieran Adams, Paul Linger, Steve Marshall (Danny Pearce 54 min), Colin Simpson (Jamie Blunden 60 min), Martin Buglione (Craig Etherington 60 min), Jon Keeling. Town face Kingstonian in the first round of the Ryman League Cup on Tuesday at the Camrose, kick-off 7.45pm. Chris Honor will be available again after serving his suspension on Saturday. Basingstoke Town: Tarr, Fraser, Sumner, Bristow, Elverson, Lisk, Elad, Girdler, Newbery, Tim Sills, Mike Davis. Not used: Hemmings, Vine, Wallace.