BASINGSTOKE Town led twice against the visiting St Albans, but in the end had to settle for a draw against the visitors at the Camrose on Saturday.

Town gave a debut to Basingstoke-born striker Rowan Vine, who joined from Gosport Borough and is best known for his spells at Birmingham City and QPR.

Also back in the line-up was Jamie Brown, whose robust approach to the game added some steel to the midfield.

Their inclusions in the team meant that both Liam Enver-Marum and Lloyd Macklin dropped to the subs bench.

Town had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute as a nice ball from Nathan Smart found Vine and his cross was headed just over by Chris Flood.

A minute later, the home side took the lead as Flood played the ball onto Brown in the penalty area and his low ball in from the byline, was fumbled by City goalkeeper Joe Welch and Vine was on hand to tap in for a debut goal.

Flood then had a shot blocked by Tom Bender, before Jernade Meade forced a save out of Town’s Aaron Howe.

The Dragons once again roared and Tom Bird and the lively James Harper combined for Dominic Hyam to head just over.

The first chance of the second half fell to the visiting Saints and Howe did well to push away a shot from Louie Theophanous, the striker who scored twice when these sides last met.

Soon after, City again produced a nice passing move with no end product as Billy Gibson’s shot went well wide.

A more direct approach followed as Welch’s long goal kick deflected into the path of Meade and only a great save from the legs of Howe denied him an equaliser.

Then just before the hour mark, Louie Soares was tripped by Bender on the edge of the area.

The free-kick was sent into the St Albans box and Hyam’s first shot was blocked and the rebound fell to Gasson whose effort hit a defender.

The ball once again came back to a Town player and Hyam’s second effort was pushed over the bar by Welch.

Just after the hour mark, a lovely ball over the top of the defence saw Flood’s shot look set to hit the net, only for Bender to slide across the area and clear the ball.

The home side deserved a second goal, but instead a wonder strike from Saints’ defender Sam Corcoran from 25 yards out, saw the sides level after 78 minutes.

Town hit straight back as Flood was denied again, but from the corner a sweet delivery from Harper, saw Flood meet the ball on the volley to make it 2-1.

Surely that would be the winner, but unfortunately there was one last twist to the game as with four minutes left Ben Martin headed in at the back post from Lee Chappell’s corner for the equaliser.

Town are next in action on Boxing Day when they have a trip to high flying Sutton United.

Basingstoke Town: Howe, Rice, Bird, Harper, Gasson, Hyam, Smart, Brown, Vine (sub Enver-Marum 74 min), Flood, Soares. Subs (not used): Gilkes, McAuley, Buckley, Macklin.

St Albans City: Welch, Nunn, Bender, Corcoran, Martin, Oshodi, Chappell, Comley, Theophanous, Gibson (Edwards 62min), Meade (sub Krans 73min). Subs (not used): Thomas, Locke, Green Attendance 455