BASINGSTOKE T 1 HITCHIN TOWN 1

BASINGSTOKE and Hitchin shared the spoils in what could possibly the last match played at the Camrose.

Momentum ebbed and flowed in an entertaining first half, the Canaries’ best chance coming from a Ben Walster free-kick.

With the hosts set up to defend a cross, Walster sneaked a shot towards the near post, but Dragons keeper Alex Tokarczyk got across to keep it out.

For Basingstoke, Nana Owusu stung the palms of Michael Johnson while Aaron Redford’s sharp volley hit the post and Matt Partridge saw an effort cleared off the line.

The hosts made the breakthrough five minutes before half-time when their top scorer Aaron Jarvis received the ball with his back to goal, swivelled to volley and shot into the net, despite a strong hand from Johnson.

Hitchin snatched an equaliser on 58 minutes when a cross played in from deep on the right found Tokarczyk in no man’s land and Matt Lench got up well to loop a header over the Dragons keeper and into the far corner.

Both sides looked win the game, with Jarvis heading wide and ‘Stoke sub Ash Artwell inches off turning in a low cross.

Jay Dowie had a great chance for the Canaries, but Joe Gater came up with a crucial block to preserve a point while the visitors survived a late penalty shout.