A DETERMINED fight-back earned Romsey Town a valuable point at the Bass Sports Ground on Saturday - and they then went desperately close to snatching victory.

It was the second time this season that the two clubs had shared the points, Alton having drawn 2-2 at the Bypass Ground in November.

And Jamie Hookway, who had scored in that first game, gave Alton an early reminder of his chance-taking skills when he rounded off some slick inter-passing to rattle home Romsey's first goal after just five minutes.

After linking up first with Dave Egerton and then Dean Higgins, Hookway popped up on the edge of the home penalty area to apply the finishing touch.

There was a hold-up when the referee pulled up with an injury and an assistant took over, Alton's physio doing a good and impartial job of running the line for the rest of the game.

The linesman on the other side of the pitch upset Romsey, however, by not flagging for what they felt was an offside goal by Barry Parker after 33 minutes.

Five minutes after that, Simon De'Ath restored Romsey's lead by leaping to head home after his first header had been parried by the goalkeeper. Joe Urquhart and Hookway were again impressive in the build-up.

Despite playing some good football, Romsey had to settle for being level after 52 minutes when a through ball split their defence and Steve Graham forced it home.

Graham struck again after 79 minutes when he rifled the loose ball home following a collision between Romsey's Ross Gregory and a home forward.

But that was the signal for a determined late rally by Romsey.

First, Craig Martin headed against the bar and then, in the 86th minute, De'Ath scored his second of the game and 17th of the season to make it all square when he latched on to a pass from Higgins, darted past a defender and drove a shot into the bottom corner.

Romsey went close to snatching victory in injury time, but had to settle for a draw.

They now face a busy Easter, with a home game against Cowes, the Isle of Wight's top Wessex League side, tomorrow and a tough local derby' away to table-topping Totton on Monday.

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