JOHN Mulhern’s second-half equaliser earned Alresford Town a share of the spoils at Follands Sports in a battle of the Sydenhams Premier Division’s bottom-two teams.

Craig Bryant had headed the visitors into a sixth-minute lead this afternoon, only for Matty Andrews to quickly level, writes Paul McNamara.

Cain Prentice poked Follands into a second-half lead. And following Mulhern’s 2-2 leveller, the hosts lost half-time substitute Damien Gorman to a late red card.

The game’s first effort on target yielded its first goal.

With Brian Howard claiming a foul as the former Sheffield United man sought to regather possession when his initial free kick was cleared back out to him on the right, Simon Everett took charge to cross to the back post.

Bryant timed his arrival perfectly to steer his looping header back across Jarrid Hixon and into the corner of goal.

Follands keeper Hixon then saved down at his left post from Tom Donaldson’s long-range effort, but on 12 minutes the hosts were level.

A one-two between Howard and Mulhern broke down on halfway, enabling Prentice to swoop and charge deep into opposing territory. From the attacker’s eventual, precise, delivery Andrews was left with the simplest of tasks to nudge the ball into an unguarded net.

Luke Musselwhite was soon close with a glancing header for Follands while, at the other end, Aaron Blaxall got his feet in a tangle when Donaldson’s cross from the right presented the midfielder with a clear sight of goal.

Owen Bush was on hand to block Mulhern’s effort early in the second-half - and minutes later the home team were ahead.

Alresford right back Carl Steadman left short his back header, allowing Andrews to steal in. John Howard saved bravely at the forward’s feet, but the visiting stopper was helpless as Prentice reacted quickest to stroke home the loose ball.

Everett was then off-target with a blistering 25-yard strike, but Alresford substitute Ryan Davies should have done far better than hook wide of the left post, after Ben Stanbrook had ended a marauding run with a fine cross into the box.

But Alresford didn’t squander their next opportunity. Howard was the architect, lofting a tremendous ball forward that eliminated home centre half James Vinton and sent Mulhern on goal. The forward’s finish, thumped across Hixon, nestled sweetly inside the keeper’s right-hand post.

John Howard tipped over from the excellent Prentice as the hosts sought to re-establish their lead, with the same attacker later blazing too high after an incisive home counter.

Follands were forced to play the closing minutes a man down after Gorman was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Another home sub Harry Osman was then denied by Donaldson’s last ditch penalty box challenge at the death – leaving both sides reflecting on a point that does little for their respective survival hopes.