MANNY Williams displayed nerves of steel to earn Basingstoke Town a precious point from their trip to Essex on Saturday.

Trailing to Michael Cheek’s first-half strike with time running out, Town were handed a lifeline when Robert Girdlestone needlessly brought down Williams to concede a penalty.

Williams, who had missed from the spot for the first time in his career during the previous week’s 0-0 draw with Concord Rangers, bravely stepped up to take the kick. Goalkeeper Tom Lovelock dived the right way, but Williams’ excellent strike found the bottom corner and Basingstoke survived a nervous period of injury-time to draw the game.

It could turn out to be a hugely important point for Town, who remain third in the Vanarama Conference South table and gained ground on promotion rivals Bromley, Havant and Waterlooville and Gosport Borough after all three of them lost.

In general, it was a poor game, with both sides struggling on a hard and uneven surface. Chances were few and far between for Basingstoke, while visiting goalkeeper Stuart Moore once again proved his worth, making two excellent saves to keep his side in the game during the second half.

Town manager Jason Bristow made two changes to the side that had beaten Bath City earlier in the week, with Jay Gasson returning from three months out with a toe injury as part of a back three and Shaun McAuley coming into midfield. Williams and Louie Soares dropped to the bench, while Nathan Smart missed the game due to suspension.

It was a scrappy encounter from the first whistle, but there were a couple of early chances. Cheek fired narrowly wide when the ball broke to him on the edge of the Town area, while Basingstoke’s James Harper was unable to beat Lovelock after failing to connect properly with a diving header.

The next half-chance fell to Chelmsford’s Mason Spence, but a well-timed challenge from Rob Dickie stopped him getting a shot away after good work from Jack Bridge down the left wing.

Dickie then had a half-chance of his own at the other end, but he was unable to control his header from Tom Bird’s driven cross.

There wasn’t much between the sides, but it was Chelmsford who looked the more likely scorers as Town struggled to get their passing game going on the tricky surface.

David Ray’s under-hit header almost let Cheek in, Moore just about beating the striker to the loose ball, but Cheek did open the scoring on 35 minutes. Bridge’s lob over the top found Rohdell Gordon, who flicked the ball past Ray to put Cheek in the clear and he took the ball around Moore before slotting home.

The pattern of the game continued after the break, but Town enjoyed a good spell around the hour mark. A mistake at the back let McAuley in down the right side of the area, but Lovelock was able to make the block, while Lloyd Macklin fired just off target after blocking an attempted clearance.

The visitors went even closer on 63 minutes. Bird’s corner found Ray at the far post and his header down was blocked on the line, with Gasson unable to force the loose ball home.

The hosts hit back, with Moore making two good saves in the space of a minute to prevent Town going further behind. The goalkeeper did brilliantly to push Ward’s free-kick over the crossbar when it looked destined for the top corner, before diving to his right to keep out Cheek’s angled drive after a mistake by Gasson.

Town made all of their substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the game, but it didn’t look like it was going to be their day.

Liam Enver-Marum was denied by Lovelock as he looked to connect with a loose ball, while Bird’s ball in from a free-kick was just about cleared before it reached Williams.

Then, with two minutes left, Girdlestone’s clumsy challenge on Williams gave the striker a chance to level the game, which he duly took.

However, there were a few nervy moments for Town in injury-time at the end of the game. Harry Hickford fired over from the edge of the area after the visitors struggled to clear a long throw, while two more chances fell to midfielder Mark Hughes.

Evans Kouassi’s cross found Hughes in space 10 yards out, but he fired over the bar, while the same player then poked the ball wide after another long throw had caused problems.

Click here to watch a post-match interview with Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow

PLAYER RATINGS

Stuart Moore – 8 (out of 10)

Struggled a bit with the surface when it came to kicking, but kept Town in the game with two vital second-half saves.

Robbie Rice – 6

Didn’t really look comfortable operating as a wing-back. Didn’t get forward and given a tough time by winger Gordon.

Tom Bird – 7

Pretty solid defensively and put some good balls into the box from set pieces.

Rob Dickie – 7

Unable to make his normal contribution going forward, but Town’s best defender on the day.

Jay Gasson – 6

Struggled a little on his return to the side. Lacking a bit of sharpness.

David Ray – 7

A poor header almost let Cheek in, but solid otherwise.

Simon Dunn – 5

Not his day. Worked as tirelessly as ever, but couldn’t get to grips with the uneven surface.

Shaun McAuley – 7

Made some good forward runs and looked to create openings, but unable to make the final ball count.

Liam Enver-Marum – 6

A frustrating afternoon. Starved of service.

Lloyd Macklin – 7

His pace caused problems in behind the defence. Worked hard to close the opposition down.

James Harper – 7

Did a decent job of shielding the back four, but unable to do much in an attacking sense.

SUBSTITUTES

Manny Williams (for Gasson 68min) – 8 (Gazette Star Man)

Went from villain to hero by stepping up to take the game-saving penalty. Showed tremendous bravery and composure considering what had happened a week earlier.

Louie Soares (for Dunn 68min) – 6

Another one who struggled to deal with the conditions. Unable to get into the game.

Chris Flood (for Macklin 77min) – 6

No real chance to show what he can do.

Subs (not used): Jenkinson, Case

Chelmsford City: Lovelock, Girdlestone, Toner, Hughes, Haines, Ekpiteta, Spence (sub Tshimanga 81min), Hickford, Bridge, Cheek (sub Kouassi 75min), Gordon (sub Ward 62min)

Subs (not used): Redwood, Freund

Attendance: 692

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