Romsey Town 2, Downton 2 A MATCH of fluctuating fortunes ended with a last minute equaliser for Romsey, ace marksman Simon De'ath keeping his cool to stroke the ball home from the penalty spot.

Town were missing all of their regular defensive trio. Andy Foster is on his way back to Zimbabwe, while ankle and head injuries accounted for Ross Gregory and Paul King respectively.

With Eddie Carlin, Richard Natt and John Romero also on the injured list, it was a patched-up outfit that took to the field. But Romsey started the brighter, with Ben Davis, Phil Proudley and Andy Willcox quickly settling down at the back and Simon Woodley, Sam Bennett and Andy Kemp - in his first game back since re-signing for Town - spraying the passes around in midfield.

Before long the chances started to come. De'ath made ground down the left before whipping the ball across to new strike partner Jason Dollard. His shot was on target but the Downton keeper, diving the wrong way, somehow managed to deflect the ball wide with his heel.

Town came even closer when De'ath burst through, but his shot bounced back into the keeper's arms off the foot of the post.

In the end Romsey had to settle for just the one first-half goal. Kemp played the ball in to Dollard, who won his header and directed the ball back to Bennett; he in turn clipped it under the diving keeper and into the back of the net.

Romsey started the second half slowly, but before long they were firing again. Dollard had a header tipped on to the bar by the visiting keeper, who then saved a fierce De'ath free-kick.

But disaster struck when Downton caught the Town defence slumbering from a free-kick down the left. Dollard was the only Town man to track back, and his challenge was deemed worthy of a penalty. Kevin Thick duly equalised from the spot.

Boosted by their goal, Downton then played their best football of the match and produced a sweeping move and cross that finished with a Luke Hatchman goal at the far post.

Romsey were chasing the game now, and threw subs Matt Froukhains, Liam Hanlon and Jamie Hewitt into the fray. Their efforts were rewarded in the last minute when a defender blocked a De'ath shot with his hand, and the striker tucked away the penalty himself to earn Town a handy point.

Romsey are in league action again tomorrow (Saturday), when they make the trip to Ringwood Town. Sam Bennett will be unavailable - he's going to a wedding.