A FREE kick two minutes from time ended the Dragons’ hopes of three points against Salisbury City on Tuesday night.
The night was a reversal in fortunes of September’s Conference South clash which saw Tim Sills net the equaliser in the final minutes of the game.
The point leaves Town ninth in the league equal with Eastleigh, trailing Dover Athletic by a point, and seven shy of a play-off position with 17 games remaining.
Frank Gray’s men will be disappointed with the point at the Camrose having led the match twice, and scoring three times - Rob Rice netting an own goal in the first half.
Town lined up without suspended duo Wes Daly whose 10 yellow cards this season earned him a two-match ban, and David Pratt’s followng his red card against Weston-super-Mare last month. Striker Sills also remained sidelined with a knee injury. The fixture saw the home side field new signing, centre back Steven Old. The 25-year-old New Zealand international was signed by Gray on Sunday from Scottish outfit Kilmarnock.
He replaces England Under 19 star Angus McDonald, who has joined Torquay having been with the Dragons on loan from Reading, since November.
In the opening 10 minutes the visitors had the best chances, and seven minutes in Salisbury’s Dan Fitchett shot over the bar from the edge of the box.
The visitors squandered a chance to open the scoring from a Stuart Sinclair corner, which was met by an unmarked Chris Giles but the effort went wide.
At the other end Delano Sam-Yorke had a run on goal but the ball was nipped away from him before he could a get a shot away.
Ashley Bayes was called into action after 11 minutes, palming away a Stuart Anderson effort from outside the area.
Town opened the scoring after 15 minutes. A long throw from Rice was not picked up by Salisbury and the bounce fell to Sam-Yorke who swivelled around and fired past the ‘keeper.
But the lead was short-lived and the visitors equalised four minutes later. Fitchett beat defenders Toby Little and Jay Gasson, and fired off a low drive that deflected off Rice, lifting the ball over Bayes and into the net.
Town carried on attacking and a Little corner nearly had the home fans celebrating as it creeped towards the far post but Sinclair cleared the ball off the line.
Town then won a free-kick on the edge of the area but new signing Giuseppe Sole’s effort was blasted over the bar.
aAter the restart Salisbury bungled an easy effort on goal. Fitchett found himself in space and forced a brilliant save from Bayes. The rebound fell at his feet but he could only slam the ball over the bar from close range.
Later Sam-Yorke fired wide from a tight angle despite Shaun McAuley waiting in the centre of the box. After 67 minutes Sole was brought down in the area leading to a penalty cry from the home side that was waved away by the referee.
But Town came back two minutes later to take the lead. Sam-Yorke bagged his brace after beating defender Ben Adelsbury and fired off a low drive past Will Puddy in the Salisbury net.
The final 20 minutes saw chances from both sides, Sam-Yorke’s lob from 18 yards at an open goal drifting wide, and earlier Salisbury’s Robbie Matthews heading into the side netting, before shooting wide from the edge of the box after 85 minutes.
The visitors levelled the score after 88 minutes. Salisbury were given a free kick 25 yards out and substitute Charlie Losasso fired through the Town wall and found the net off the post.
In the final minute of normal time Sole should of banked the winner but his close range effort was smashed over the bar.
In the four minutes of added time Bayes was forced into action saving an effort from replacement Abdulai Bell-Baggie.
The last chance of the match fell to Sam-Yorke who fired straight at Puddy with seconds remaining
On Saturday, Town face fifth placed Sutton United. The Dragon’s trumped the play-off placed side in the FA Trophy third round in November, avenging an earlier league defeat in August.
