CHRISTCHURCH were the only ‘winners’ as a crucial basement battle between Totton & Eling and Fareham Town ended in a 1-1 stalemate at Miller Park.

A point apiece meant neither bottom-two club was able to make up significant ground on 19th-placed Priory in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier survival scrap.

But with tail-enders T&E having played fewer games than those above, co-manager/chairman Andy Tipp still hasn’t abandoned hope of a ‘Great Escape’ – even though the first of their games in hand is about as tough as they come.

Leaders Petersfield Town visit Miller Park tonight hungry to crack the winning formula again after successive league draws at Fawley and Hamworthy.

T&E have already sent a couple of title contenders home with bloodied noses in recent weeks with both Winchester City and Moneyfields coming a cropper on midweek trips to Calmore.

“If we beat Petersfield, that’s the top three done!” smiled Tipp. “It’s going to be tough, but we seem to do well here on Tuesday nights. We’ve got nothing to fear.”

Having cut high-flying Moneyfields down to size 2-0 last Tuesday, T&E found fellow strugglers Fareham a far tougher nut to crack.

After a goalless first half, the Millers made a 48th-minute breakthrough when Danny Steer ducked to meet Sergio Caballero’s corner from the right and headed it into a congested six-yard box where man-of-the-moment Steve Jenkin prodded in his fourth goal in as many games.

But the celebrations had barely subsided when Fareham drew level with a goal of stunning simplicity – Sam Kirkwood crossing from the right for big centre-forward Callum Laycock to net a towering header.

There was little to choose between two hard-working sides who sweated blood for the cause, but Fareham came closest to nicking it with both Bradey Norton and Ash Tattersall seeing shots clattering off the underside of the woodwork.

Town keeper Luke Douglas kept T&E at bay in a frantic finale – the pick of his saves coming when he brilliantly turned over sub Conor Thorne’s goalbound blast.

“It was one of those scrappy games where everyone gives everything and people get a bit nervous because they desperately don’t want to lose,” said Tipp.

“Fareham gave us a better game than Moneyfields, but they’re scrapping for their lives and having Matt Parr back made a difference. He gets them fired up.”

Town boss Parr, head of racing with an Italian bookmakers, missed last Tuesday’s 5-1 defeat at Horndean while at The Cheltenham Festival.

Reflecting on the game, he said: “It was an edgy affair, but we could have won it if we’d been a bit more clinical.

“We had a few players back and that (missing players) has been issue for us all season. We’ve had to rebuild the side twice.

“It’s no coincidence that three clubs without a budget are the three clubs at the bottom of the pile and, like Totton and Christchurch, we’ve been calling in favours from a few of our old players.

“It’s nigh on impossible to work with no budget in this league. We’re the lowest scorers (with T&E) and our problem is that we don’t put teams away when we’re on top.

“I’ve been six seasons at Fareham and, until now, I don’t think we’ve finished outside the top 12.

“We’ve over-achieved these last few years and maybe this season is more a reality check than a failure.”

Totton & Eling: Matt Fredericks, Callum Davies, Louis Dear, Danny Steer, Stewart McAlpine (Byron Gharibian, 68), Steve Marwood, Zac Anderson (Conor Thorne, 59), Sergio Caballero (Chris Marwood, 68), Carlos Geteski, Sam House, Steve Jenkin. Subs (not used) Ryan Lomax, Keenan New.

Fareham Town: Luke Douglas, James Rolfe, Louie Martin, Ian Humble, Matt Page, Luke Heard, Sam Kirkwood (Mark Cotton, 81), George Davis, Callum Laycock, Ash Tattersall, Bradey Norton. Subs (not used) Jordan Hughes, Nick O’Donnell, Jack James, Josh Cripps.

Referee: Derek Pratt.