A QUALITY free-kick from Jack McKnight, plus some stout defending in the latter stages of this fixture earned Basingstoke Town a very creditable point at promotion chasing Slough Town.

The first chance of the game arrived on nine minutes to the home side.

Following some loose play by the visiting defence Perry Coles managed to get a free run in on Colm McAdden.

The Rebels striker elected a lob which did not have enough elevation and McAdden was able to paw the ball past the post for a corner.

From the resulting corner from Matt Lench, Guy Hollis rose highest and was unlucky to see his header hit the crossbar.

After 22 minutes Basingstoke had their first chance. The impressive George Bennett made good progress down the left and his accurate cross found the head of Sam Argent. The home goalie Jack Turner was alert and blocked the goal-bound effort for a corner.

Slough maintained an edge in play, but a well organised Dragons defence ensured no efforts of note were able to threaten McAdden in goal.

Basingstoke almost got off to the perfect start when a fast break gave Bennett a chance and his parting shot was pushed around the near post by Turner.

With both sides guilty of misplaced passes and Slough over elaborate in their build up; the Rebels introduced former Basingstoke duo Manny Wiiliams and Simon Dunn from the bench on 63 minutes.

The effect was quickly noticeable and three minutes later a chance was created for Matt Lench.

The midfielder's shot from 20 yards saw McAdden dive full length to push the ball away.

However it was Basingstoke who were to take the lead.

On 70 minutes a free-kick was awarded some 25 yards from goal and to the left of the penalty box.

McKnight stepped up and curled a delightful shot into the top corner. The Rebels response was almost immediate as Lench created space for a shot.

His effort went just past the post. There was a delay of several minutes as McAdden went down injured following a collision with a Rebels forward.

Slough piled on the pressure and were rewarded with the equaliser on 78 minutes. George Wells started the move on the left and fed Dunn.

The substitute fed another former Basingstoke player Chris Flood, who fired into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

The Rebels attacked continuously in search of the winner and on 84 minutes a good effort from Lench saw McAdden push the ball around the post.

The Basingstoke goal came under intense pressure in the latter stages and some brave defending held the Rebels at bay.

Into added time Slough had one last chance when a cross from Guy Hollis found Warren Harris who headed wide.

The result moved Basingstoke to 12th in the table and on Saturday, they are at home to St Neots.