CHRIS Flood scored a super late equaliser as Basingstoke Town ended their winless start to their National League South campaign with a 1-1 draw with visiting Bishop's Stortford on Saturday.

The Dragons made one change to the side which lost to Bath City in midweek, with Shaun McAuley coming for the injured Jamie Brown.

Both teams set their stall out to play 4-4-2 and it was the visitors who started the better in a dull opening 45 minutes.

Basingstoke took 20 minutes to carve out their first chance as a through ball from Shaun McAuley saw Stortford goalkeeper Tom Lovelock come smartly off his line to beat Liam Enver-Marum to the ball.

Then out of nothing Bishop's Stortford took the lead. Mikel Suarez fed the ball inside for Michael Thalassitis and he slotted slot home after 23 minutes.

This shocked the home side and they never really looked like getting a quick equaliser, as their link-up play was poor and they could not find a way through the visitors two banks of four players.

Elliott Buchanan, scorer of a hat-trick on the opening day of the season for Stortford, had a chance with a low shot which Aaron Howe was easily able to cope with.

Then on 36 minutes a free-kick from 40 yards out from Tom Bird forced Lovelock to punch away.

The referee ended a 45 minutes which was instantly forgettable and there were high hopes the second-half would be better, which it was.

The visitors had the better of the early exchanges as Buchanan forced a nice save from Howe at his near post and from the corner Suarez headed wide when he should have hit the target.

Just after the hour, Town had their first shot on target from Louie Soares which was dealt with easily by Lovelock.

The introduction of Town sub Harrison Gilkes saw him win a corner, but a nice break from this saw Stortford subs Billy Lobjoit and Matt Fanimo link up well, before Fanimo blazed his shot over.

The home side forced another corner and from this Nathan Smart had a shot saved and then sub Lloyd Macklin looked to have had his shot blocked by the arm of Anthony Church, but referee Savvas Yianni, who gave nothing all day, was never going to award a penalty.

The visitors should have sealed the win when Lobjoit played in Fanimo and he slotted the ball under the out rushing Howe and then just wide of the upright.

It proved to be a great let off for Town as four minutes later and six minutes from time James Harper found Flood on right and the striker drove into the area and scored with with a great finish.

As the game went into injury time a nice one-two between Tom Bird and Gilkes, saw Bird tripped on the edge of the area. He took the free-kick but the ball was well caught by the goalie and then at the other end Lobjoit fired just wide as the game ended 1-1.

This was a fair result from two poor teams on the day, but the first point of the season for Town which hopefully they can now build on away at Oxford City on Tuesday night.

PLAYER RATINGS

Aaron Howe - 7 (out of 10)

No chance with the goal and made a couple of saves to keep the score down to 1-0.

Nathan Smart - 6

Looks good going forward, if moved to midfielder may help him to influence the game more.

Tom Bird - 6

Knocked in some good crosses and a one good free-kick, but like Smart found if difficult to find the pass to the front men.

James Harper - 6

Always ready to take the ball from the defence, but then played too many short passes which got his side into trouble in the opening 45 minutes. After the break started to knock the ball longer and looked a much better player.

Jay Gasson - 7

Won everything in the air and gave their centre forward Mikel Suarez little chance to shine.

David Ray - 6

Never really noticed him so therefore being a defender he must have had a solid game.

Louie Soares - 5

Did little in the first 45 minutes, but seemed to coming into the game when he was taken off.

Shaun McAuley - 5

Not his best game, never really got going in midfielder and failed to take his chance in place of Jamie Brown.

Liam Enver-Marum - 5

Took a good 75 minutes to find his feet and then failed to take any of his chances. Had no service in the first 45 minutes.

Chris Flood - 7 Gazette Star Man

Took his goal really well driving into the area and it was a huge goal as Town looked set to be heading for their third straight defeat.

Manny Williams - 5

Never got into the game as too often he was knocked off the ball - not always fairly. One body check would have have been more at home at the nearby ice rink against the Bison. So no real surprise he was the first man to be substituted.

SUBSTITUTES

Lloyd Machlin (for Williams 55 mins) - 6

Added some pace to the attack and Town looked a little more lively.

Harrison Gilkes (for McAuley 64 mins) -7

He was full of running and added a spark to the midfield which had been missing.

Simon Dunn (for Soares 74 mins) - 7

Another player who looked to drive Town forward more and was unlucky to pick up a late yellow card.

Subs (not used) Robbie Rice and Will Salmon.

Bishop's Stortford: Tom Lovelock, De Reece Vanderhyde, Kenzer Lee, Frankie Merrifield, Adam Bailey-Dennis, George Allen, Sheldon Sellars (sub Matt Fanimo 60mins), Anthony Church, Mikel Suarez, Michael Thalassitis (sub Nilly Lobjoit 60mins), Elliott Buchanan.

Subs (not used) Johnny Herd, Josh Ekim, Ejiro Okosieme.

Attendance 462