BOTTOM two Totton & Eling and Fareham Town still have much work to do to pull away from the Sydenhams Premier danger zone after scrapping out a 1-1 draw at Miller Park this afternoon.

The Millers stuck with the same starting XI that beat Moneyfields on Tuesday and their bench was strengthened by the return of experience duo Chris Marwood and Byron Gharibian.

Fareham – without a league win since January 24 – featured three new signings in their travelling 16, welcoming Luke Heard into defence and naming Jordan Hughes and ex-Follands goalkeeper Nick O’Donnell among their subs.

Both teams looked up for the fight – no one more so that Totton’s young right back Callum Davies who made two solid tackles in the opening ten minutes to keep Fareham at bay.

First he dispossessed Callum Laycock after keeper Matt Fredericks had raced out and committed himself on the edge of the area and then he stopped the lively Ash Tattersall in his tracks with another fine tackle.

Totton’s most promising early attacks came in the tenth minute when Carlos Geteski played in Zac Anderson whose blocked shot came back to Sergio Caballero whose follow-up effort was deflected out for a corner.

In the 18th minute T&E could have been punished for playing too much football in their defensive third but, having been gifted possession Bradey Norton dragged his shot well wide from 20 yards.

On 28 minutes Totton conceded a free-kick when Caballero caught Norton but, although Norton flighted the free-kick into the right area, it was marginally too high for anyone to attack.

 A hectic, fast-paced first-half could have gone either way with both sides making up for in effort what they lacked in finesse on a bleak, breezy March afternoon.

 A bit of Brazilian flair burst through the gloom in the 39th minute when Geteski cleverly flicked the ball into the path of Sam House whose shot flew wide of the far post. T&E were convinced it took a touch for a corner but referee Derek Pratt awarded a goal-kick.

After a first-half stalemate the game suddenly burst to life at the start of the second period.

The Millers made the breakthrough in the 48th minute when Danny Steer ducked to meet Caballero’s corner from the right and headed it into a congested six yard box.

Steve JENKIN prodded it over the line – his fourth goal in as many games for the bottom of the table hosts.

But with Totton still in celebratory mood, their bubble was burst a matter of seconds later when Sam Kirkwood crossed from the right and beat centre-forward LAYCOCK headed over Fredericks from close range to make it 1-1.

That did Town’s confidence the world of good and Tattersall wasn’t too far away with a driven shot over and powered in from the left.

Totton were giving too many free-kicks away and, when Fareham took one quickly, James Rolfe’s cross ricocheted off two T&E defenders and it needed quick thinking by Fredericks to stop Laycock striking again.

Frederick then did well to take the sting out of Laycock’s low blast from distance before a similar effort by substitute Connor Thorne at the other end deflected away for a corner.

Totton threw on two more subs – Chris Marwood and Gharibian – in a bid to keep themselves in a game that looked in danger of slipping away from them.

Still it was Fareham carrying the greater threat, however, and on 73 minutes Norton was desperately unlucky with a thunderous shot from the right which crashed down off the underside of the crossbar before Laycock sent the follow-up over.

Then, with the 80th minute approaching, Ian Humble turned well on the edge of the area, but T&E keeper Fredericks was right behind his goal bound shot.

With Totton desperately trying to raise their game, skipper Steve Marwood wasn’t far away with a half volley that narrowly cleared the bar from 20 yards.

Unbelievably for Fareham the crossbar came to Totton’s rescue again with five minutes remaining – Laycock playing Tattersall in down the right and the visitors looking on in dismay as his shot too clattered down off the woodwork.

With excitement mounting at the death, it needed strong hands by Fareham keeper Luke Douglas to push Thorne’s superb blast over.

T&E had the best of the closing minutes but Douglas proved equal to anything they could throw at him and honours ended even.