BEING held to a draw by Ryman League Premier Division opposition was probably not the result Basingstoke Town manager Jason Bristow would have wanted from his side’s final pre-season friendly.

It would have been good for his side to cruise to a comfortable and impressive victory a week before they travel to face National League South title favourites Ebbsfleet.

For 25 minutes at the start of the match, it looked like that would indeed be the case. Town were totally dominant, passing the ball expertly and constantly probing away at the home defence.

At times, they tried too hard to score the perfect goal, but they fully deserved the lead given to them by Manny Williams.

Sadly for the visiting supporters, they were unable to keep it up. Leatherhead, who looked a decent outfit when they got their act together, managed to get back into the game and levelled before the break.

They continued to impress in the second half, taking the lead and looking on course to claim something of a scalp before Liam Enver-Marum levelled the game with 15 minutes to go.

There were positives to take from the game from a Town point of view. Their play in the early stages was very good, while they showed good spirit to battle their way back into the game. However, they will need to play at their best far more consistently when the league campaign begins and still need to cut out the mistakes that have cost them goals throughout pre-season.

Town were missing both Jay Gasson and David Ray, so Robbie Rice and Will Salmon were asked to fill in at centre-back, while midfielders James Harper and Louie Soares were rested.

Williams started in a three-pronged attack with Chris Flood and Enver-Marum and was given licence to roam, dropping deep in a central position or finding space on the wings.

Half of Leatherhead’s four-strong ex-Town contingent started the game, with Louis Wells between the posts and Joe Bruce in the centre of defence. Left-back Adam Green and midfielder Neil Barrett both came on as second-half substitutes.

Wells almost gifted his former side the lead early on, fumbling Shaun McAuley’s shot from range, but he was able to gather at the second attempt.

Williams then tested the home goalkeeper at the end of a flowing move, while Enver-Marum headed wide at the near post.

Flood overplayed when put clean through by Simon Dunn, seeing his effort blocked, while Wells made a decent save to deny Enver-Marum from a narrow angle as Town impressed.

The visitors were playing some lovely football, cutting Leatherhead open with clever passes and neat flicks, but they wasted several good opportunities, with Enver-Marum seeing another effort saved by Wells when perhaps he should have squared the ball.

They did take the lead with 22 minutes on the clock, when Tom Bird’s corner found Rice at the back post and his header across goal was nodded home from close range by Williams.

That could have been the signal for the floodgates to open, but there was a break in play while Dunn received treatment for a knock and the visitors seemed to lose their momentum.

Leatherhead looked the more dangerous side for the remainder of the half and they grabbed an equaliser on 33 minutes. Rice was harshly penalised for a foul on the edge of the area and the impressive Vas Karagiannis fired an excellent shot over the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Aaron Howe.

Leatherhead continued to pose problems early in the second half, with Jerry Nnamani heading wide from a corner, Karagiannis curling a low shot just past the post and Mark Nwokeji failing to capitalise on another chance.

However, just as it seemed Town had weathered the storm, they conceded again on the hour.

It was a goal almost entirely of their own making. With men committed forward, McAuley overplayed in his own half, giving the ball away and leaving Rice and Salmon totally exposed.

Kiernan Hughes-Mason advanced into the area before squaring for Karagiannis, who had time to take a touch before poking the ball beyond Howe.

Good play from Enver-Marum and Williams gave Flood a great chance to level soon after, but his finish was uncharacteristically poor, while, at the other end, Howe had to make an excellent save to deny Karagiannis a hat-trick, diving full-length to keep out his dipping shot.

Basingstoke didn’t give up and were the better side in the closing stages. Soares tested Wells from a free-kick before Enver-Marum levelled things up, slotting home from close range after Lloyd Macklin had got a flick to a cross from the right.

Bird went close to winning the game for the visitors with eight minutes to go, cutting in from the left before curling an excellent right-foot shot over Wells. Unfortunately for Town, the ball smacked against the crossbar, leaving them to settle for a draw.

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

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Howe – 7 (out of 10)

Couldn’t do too much to prevent the first goal, but might have come off his line quicker for the second. Made a tremendous save to deny Karagiannis a hat-trick though.

Nathan Smart – 7

Struggled to control his temper at times, but put in a solid performance.

Tom Bird – 8 – Gazette Star Man

Provided an outlet on the left, never stopped running and almost won the game with an excellent shot that hit the crossbar.

Jamie Brown – 7

His passing was a little wayward at times, but he did a good job of breaking down Leatherhead attacks.

Robbie Rice – 7

Looks pretty comfortable at centre-back. Could threaten Jay Gasson’s place in the side.

Will Salmon – 7

Also looked solid in the centre of defence. Very good on the ball.

Simon Dunn – 7

Linked midfield and attack well, finding pockets of space and playing some lovely passes.

Shaun McAuley – 6

Started the game in a lively fashion but badly at fault for the second goal and allowed his head to drop.

Liam Enver-Marum – 7

Got himself into good positions but didn’t make the most of the opportunities that fell his way.

Chris Flood – 6

Showed some nice touches and looked bright, but not his day in front of goal.

Manny Williams – 7

Did well with a roaming brief. Found space all over the pitch.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Macklin (for Flood 65min) – 7

Didn’t have many chances to influence the game, but his flick led to the equalising goal.

Louie Soares (for Williams 65min) – 7

Another strong display. Calm and confident on the ball.

Harrison Gilkes (for McAuley 75min) – 6

Didn’t really have time to get into the game.

Subs (not used): Harper, Watts, Norris

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