Maidenhead United 2 Basingstoke Town 2

MAX Rooke grabbed his first ever goals in a Basingstoke Town shirt as Ernie Howe's side twice came from behind to fight out a 2-2 draw with Maidenhead United on Boxing Day.

The 22-year-old netted in each half to earn Town a point from the fixture but, had it not been for the heroics of Maidenhead 'keeper Richard Barnard, they could have left with all three.

Barnard pulled off a trio of magnificent stops to deny the Camrose Blues a winning response to their 2-0 defeat against Hendon the previous Saturday.

After his errors in that match, Steve Hemmings was dropped and a re-shuffled back-four started the game. Ian Dickens moved to centre-half and David Ray came in at right-back.

But after just six minutes, Dickens suffered a similar experience. He miss-kicked his clearance, affording Matt Glynn the chance to ride Ricky Allaway's desperate lunge and steal into the box.

Scott Tarr came out smartly and forced Glynn wide with a good block at the striker's feet but the Maidenhead man was able to re-group and somehow fire in from an acute angle near the by-line as the Town defence scrambled back.

Conditions were difficult, as they always are at Maidenhead. Heavy overnight rain had made this match a doubt but, even though it went ahead, the pitch was extremely boggy and slippery underfoot.

Nevertheless, Town adapted to it and began to retain possession well, pegging back their hosts as they chased an equaliser.

It came in the 27th minute. Great strength from Efon Elad down the left flank saw him beat Orlando Jeffrey and cross.

The ball was only partially cleared by Brian Connor - straight to Craig McAllister.

Shielding it, McAllister then fed Rooke, whose well-timed run took him into the box before he calmly planted a right-foot shot past Barnard.

At 1-1, Town dominated the game until half-time. Neville Roach was cynically pulled back from a clear goal-scoring chance after turning his marker, while Alex Ewin brought the first top-class save from Barnard minutes before the interval.

His header from Rooke's corner was heading towards the top corner before Barnard's desperate dive, high to his right, clawed it away.

The home side again started brightly after the re-start and Dickens was called upon to make a saving tackle from Lawrence Yaku, six yards out.

Barnard kept his side level, scrambling back to tip over Roach's ambitious 25-yard lob following a sliced clearance by Andy Cook on 59 minutes.

But it was Cook who put United in front eight minutes later. Lurking unmarked at the far post, his header from Yaku's cross gave the home side a lead they didn't deserve.

Town refused to panic and stuck to the task in hand. Their reward came in the 82nd minute, following a swift counter, when Rooke lashed home from 20 yards after Ewin's pull-back from the right.

At 2-2, Town went for the jugular and very nearly grabbed a winner when McAllister was put in by Elad. Once again, though, Barnard was equal to the challenge, reaching low to get a hand to McAllister's strike and turn it narrowly past the post.

Goalscorer Rooke said: "It's about time I got my first goals because I have had so many shots! But I'm very pleased as it has got us a point."

His manager, Ernie Howe, said: "I thought we responded very well after last week and it was just a shame that we have given two goals away, as it was a game we should have won.

"Yes, their 'keeper has made some great saves but they looked out on their feet at the end of the match and our fitness levels really pleased me. Only one side looked like winning it.

"It was always going to be hard coming here today but the lads have battled and showed resolve to get something from the game, even if we possibly should have had more."

Maidenhead United: Barnard, Webster, Connor, Cook, Elsegood, Jeffrey, Kelly, Yaku, Channell (sub Allen 75min), Glynn, Ulasi. Subs not used: Morley, Adeoye, Keywood, Rhodes.

Basingstoke Town: Tarr, Dickens, Stamp, Gibbens, Ray, Allaway, Rooke, Elad, McAllister, Roach, Ewin. Subs not used: Hemmings, Howes, Graham.