Nine-man Fareham hit back to draw against Alresford in Wessex League thriller with lowly Alresford

Connor Messenbird (red) was sent off on an action-packed evening for Fareham at home to Alresford in the Wessex League Premier Division. Picture: Vernon Nash

High-flying Fareham Town boss Pete Stiles reflected on his side's dramatic draw with lowly Alresford Town and conceded: It's a shame we're heading into lockdown on the back of that result.

The Reds dropped a place to third in the Wessex League Premier Division table after being held to a 3-3 draw at Cams Alders.

Yet the scoreline does not tell the whole story.

On an evening that had it all, Fareham battled back from behind on three occasions.

They also missed a penalty and ended the game with nine men after Connor Messenbird was sent off and Callum Benfield ordered to the sin bin.

But after such a fine start - the draw ended a run of eight straight league wins for the Reds - Stiles is unhappy his side have a month or more to stew on this with the suspension of non-elite football from tomorrow.

He felt a below-par display, poor officiating and the fact his team were playing for the first time in two weeks worked against them on the night.

‘We weren’t at our best,' conceded Stiles.

‘We missed a penalty and some glorious chances’ having said that, they missed some glorious chances.

‘But the second-half never got going. It was stop-start, stop-start.

‘Having said that, I’m surprised the game was on. That’s not my main gripe, though; from start to finish we weren’t at our best.

‘The two-week break didn’t help us. Certainly, the referee didn’t help us.

‘We had two weeks where we hadn’t played football.

‘They (Alresford) were wound up like elastic bands ready to have a game with us and caught us a little off guard.

‘We never really got our passing game going.

'It’s a shame that we’re going to finish for a month now with that result.'

The Benfield brothers - Josh and Callum - struck in the first half as the hosts twice battled back to head into the break at 2-2.

Stiles received a yellow card during the first period.

Incredibly, the second half would top the drama seen in the opening 45 minutes.

Archie Wilcox had a penalty saved as the Reds missed the chance to go ahead for the first time.

Then, trailing 3-2, Messenbird picked up a second yellow before Callum Benfield was sin-binned.

Determined not to suffer a first league defeat since the opening day, Tom Settle struck in the closing stages.

‘Getting that point is not the end of the world, it’s not what we wanted, but there’s a long way to go yet,’ Stiles added. ‘There are going to be lots of twists and turns.

'But as long as we’re still up there in touch with everyone, that’s where we want to be.'