BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow is hopeful that Saturday's dramatic comeback against Hemel Hempstead Town will prove to be a turning point for his struggling side.

Another defeat looked likely when the Dragons went 2-1 down to a penalty five minutes from time, but they managed to find a response, Liam Enver-Marum scoring his first goal of the season from the penalty spot to earn his side a point.

Town's wait for their first win of the season continues, but Bristow was pleased with the spirit shown by his side at Hemel.

"I'd like to think that we might have turned a corner," he said. "It was only a point, but the manner in which it came about was pleasing.

"Conceding so late after the start we have had, it would have been easy for the players to accept that it was not their day, but they pulled themselves back into the game. The spirit is still there and hopefully getting that point can kick-start us.

"Credit to Liam, because there was a lot of pressure on that penalty. He had been unlucky not to score before Saturday, but he took the penalty confidently. Hopefully he can go on a little run of scoring now."

Basingstoke face a busy few days, with Saturday's home game against Eastbourne Borough (3pm) followed by a trip to St Albans City on Monday night (7.45pm).

One of their big problems so far this season has been their failure to score first in games.

Town have led for a grand total of just 16 minutes over the course of their opening eight fixtures, with the opposition scoring the opening goal of the game on six occasions.

Bristow said: "Scoring first was a big thing for us last year. If we go ahead, the opposition has to open up, which gives us space to play.

"Starting well and taking the lead is important in the way we play, but we have spent a lot of time behind in games this season. That allows the opposition to shut up shop because they don't have to score."

Town go into the weekend 20th in the National League South table – but with only goal difference keeping them off the bottom.

This weekend, they face an Eastbourne side who have made a good start to the season and sit ninth in the table, before travelling fellow strugglers St Albans, who claimed their first win of the season last weekend.

Bristow said: "We know that it will be a tough weekend and while we are desperate to get a win under our belts, it's also important that we take something from the games.

"Eastbourne have a good mix of experienced players and youngsters. They will try to play out from the back and it should be a good game of football.

"St Albans got their first win last week and we found them hard to play against last year, so we expect another battle."

Town will be without midfielder Jamie Brown for a further three weeks due to a hip injury, but Shaun McAuley and George Hallahan are back in contention for a starting berth this weekend.