SUPER-SUB Stefan Brown scored a dramatic late equaliser to earn Basingstoke Town a point at home to Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday night.

Having led 1-0 at half-time, Town looked set to lose a fourth consecutive match as they conceded two poor goals from set-pieces to trail late in the game.

However, roared on by a vociferous home crowd, Basingstoke refused to give in – and they were rewarded when Brown levelled the scores deep into injury-time, securing a point that lifted his side out of the Blue Square Bet South relegation zone.

Town manager Jason Bristow said: “Getting that goal could be massive for us. We made it hard for ourselves again by conceding two poor goals – but scoring at the end means we have stopped the rot.

“I am really pleased for Stefan Brown as well. He showed good strength and it was a fantastic finish with his weaker foot.

“He has had to be patient but he is a talent and he offers us something different to our other forwards. We brought him in with the long-term in mind but he has started to get goals and hopefully he can build on that.”

Brown will be hoping his fine cameo earns him a place in the starting line-up against AFC Totton, his old club, in the FA Trophy next Saturday.

Town are without a game this weekend as scheduled opponents Boreham Wood are in FA Cup action. That fixture will now be played on Monday November 12.

See this week's Gazette, on sale now, for a full report from Tuesday night’s game.