Basingstoke’s potent attack and defensive fragilities were on full display on Sunday as they twice surrendered their two-goal lead to concede a draw against Guernsey FC.

The thrilling game saw the two sides split eight goals between them in a 4-4 draw.

At full time, manager Dan Brownlie said his side were very much the better of the two but despite holding 3-1 and 4-2 leads in the second half, Guernsey were able to fight back and ensure a share of the spoils.

The hosts took the lead with their first attack on 18 minutes, a scrappy goal that followed a mishit cross, a fluffed clearance and a scuffed shot before Kieran Mahon eventually toed the ball into the net.

Town responded immediately though, Brad Wilson winning a penalty within 90 seconds of the restart and Stefan Brown stepped up to coolly convert.

Brown turned provider eight minutes later as his flick on sent Conor Lynch clear to send an accurate strike across Callum Stanton and in off the far post.

Basingstoke had control of the midfield for the majority of the first half and Brown notched his second just before the break, taking a touch, swivelling and sending a low finish into the bottom corner to put his side in a strong position at half-time.

Guernsey halved the deficit early in the second period, Ross Allen was picked out in the box and finished coolly into the bottom corner.

Stanton produced a wonderful save from an Anton Rodgers free kick to keep his team in the game, but Lynch finished off a sweeping move down the left by tapping in his 18th of the season from Brown’s low cross with fifteen minutes to go.

It looked to be enough to secure victory but Allen converted a rebound from close range just three minutes later before Glenn Le Tissier converted at the far post following a long throw to tie the score with four minutes to go.

Substitute McKoy Palmer had an impact, a curling cross teeing up Brad Wilson who could only turn the ball over the bar from close range and Stanton produced excellent saves to deny both Palmer and Wilson in stoppage time and secure a point.