Basingstoke Town Res 2, Woking Res 2

RICHARD Newbery scored a last-gasp equaliser to keep Basingstoke's second string top of the Suburban League at the Camrose on Wednesday night.

In an end-to-end encounter, Mark Lisk managed to get his name on the scoresheet.

There was plenty for the rain-soaked crowd to enthuse about in an entertaining opening to this top of the table clash.

Lee Chudy posed a threat with his own crosses but the first opportunity fell to the wing-back when he received a cross from Toby Sumner. His left-foot shot on the turn was smothered at the second attempt by Stuart Baverstock in Woking's goal.

The visitors were fortunate to survive two close shaves when Steve French spared the blushes of Baverstock, who was beaten to a high free-kick from Ashley Perry, as the Cards defender hooked the ball off the line. Moments later another teasing Chudy centre was turned on to his own crossbar by Lee O'Donnell.

The Camrose Blues had a let-off themselves shortly before the half-hour as Richard Holliday crashed a shot from 14 yards against an upright.

At the other end Basingstoke fashioned two further chances to break the deadlock. Phil McConnell couldn't quite convert a low Chudy free-kick which Tim Sills dummied, and Sills teed himself up from 24 yards for a volley which Baverstock did well to save to his right.

Woking's replied with Holliday setting up Paul Wetherall for a first-time effort which Grant Frost just managed to divert around the post two minutes before the interval.

At the start of the second period, Frost was kept busy. A curling free-kick by French was tipped on to the post by the Basingstoke 'keeper at full stretch and Frost did just enough to put O'Donnell off as he raced clear on to Simon Teague's through-ball.

The pendulum swung back towards Basingstoke when Lisk, making his first appearance after a lengthy lay-off with a back injury, fired his side in front with a 28-yard shot after 69 minutes.

Sills then had two gilt-edged opportunities which both ended in disappointment. First, his attempted scissor-kick slid wide of the target. Then his powerful header, from a Chudy cross, beat the goalkeeper, only to canon to safety off the post.

The Camrose Blues were made to suffer when Paul Wetherall scored twice in two minutes.

Dante Alighieri's corner caused confusion in the home defence and Wetherall back-heeled home from point-blank range after 76 minutes. The Woking striker then provided a clinical finish to another Alighieri assist and the visitors led for the first time.

Basingstoke pushed everything into attack and Newbery went close on three seperate occasions. The second hit the back of the net as Sills flicked on Sumner's cross into the striker's path only for an offside flag to rule out the effort.

Alighieri spurned a chance to put the game beyond the reach of Peter Gray's side but Frost again did enough to deny the Woking wing-back.

With seconds remaining, Chudy sent over another telling cross and Newbery sent his diving header past Baverstock to snatch a draw in stoppage time.

Basingstoke Town Reserves: Frost; Herbert (sub Layton 79min), Roffey (sub Wallace 86min), Perry, McConnell, Hemmings, Lisk (sub Glover 79min), Sumner, Newbery, T Sills, Chudy. Subs (not used): Barnham, Ambrose.