Staines Town came back from 2-0 down to earn a draw in an entertaining match at Wheatsheaf Lane on Tuesday.

Swans boss Steve Cordery handed Richard Orlu a Conference début as Saturday’s centre back Ifura was sidelined with a toe injury, and he was flanked by René Steer who replaced Kamara.

City were captained by the towering Ben Martin, who had a brief spell with Staines. Staines attacked the Penton Hook end in the first half.

The home side made a confident start, passing the ball around crisply and probing for gaps in the City defence.

However, the visitors showed from an early stage that they were dangerous on the break, and it was they who grabbed the opening goal in the 16th minute, searing down the right and centring to James Fisher who crashed the ball into the bottom corner of Wells’ net.

This setback seemed to knock the stuffing out of Staines, whilst City were now rampant, although Staines made one dangerous break through Scarlett and Butler that ended in Charles-Smith firing over.

In addition to their speed on the break, their skipper and Roberts possessed the stature to make them dangers at any set piece.

Steer picked up the only booking of the game for a mistimed tackle, in a game that was enhanced by the quality of referee Ben Knight, and the sporting attitudes of both sets of players.

This was exemplified in the 28th minute, when Butler hurt his leg in attempting a shot in a crowded box, and although play continued, City keeper Bastock was quick to see that the Staines striker had a real problem, and drew the ref’s attention to it.

Butler received treatment, and limped back on for a couple of minutes, but his mobility did not return and he had to be withdrawn early to make way for Warren Harris.

The former Ashford man thus enjoyed his first long contribution, performing so well that he was selected eventually as The Massive’s man of the match.

But before Harris had got on, Staines’ task was made that much harder when Saints added a second goal on 28 minutes, Hassan Sulaiman picking out Inih Effiong who made no mistake with a close range bullet header.

At this stage Staines looked a beaten side, but they started to get back into the game in the last five minutes of the half.

Orlu smashed a volley across the face of goal from a Griffiths flick on, Harris provided a searching ball into the box that just eluded his team mates, and Scarlett sent a low shot just beyond Bastock’s post.

But City showed that they were still a threat, Adam Martin stinging the Swans wall with a powerful free kick in the second of four added minutes.

Mr Cordery must have given his side a rousing rejoinder during the break for they pulled a goal back just 11 seconds after kicking off!

Scarlett hurtled down the right wing, and Harris supplied a low ball across to Marc Charles-Smith, who gleefully forced the ball over the line from close range.

Charles-Smith was involved all over the attacking half of the pitch, keeping the City defence occupied with numerous darting runs and tigerish tackles, notably one on B Martin that eventually led to a dangerous free kick, and closing in on the final ball after a swift Steer / Griffiths move down the line.

The equaliser came in the 69th minute, from powerful close range header by Leroy Griffiths, after Darty Brown had shown his strength in midfield to create the chance.

There were 21 minutes left, and both sides knew that they could win this one. Staines were grateful to Wells’ agility in twisting to punch away a goalbound deflection from a Fisher drive, but they showed their attacking intent by bringing Chaaban on for Risbridger for the last 11 minutes.

In the 82nd, Wells made another superb save, clawing away a header from B Martin that was arrowing towards his top corner. Staines ended the game on the attack, but they were unable to break down City’s defence for a third time, and the match ended as an exciting and entertaining draw.

Staines had dropped to 12th after Monday’s games, and this point kept them in that position.

Staines: Wells; Jackson, Steer, Gordon ©, Orlu, Risbridger (Chaaban 79), Scarlett, D Brown, Griffiths, Charles-Smith, Butler (Harris 29); unused King, Kamara, Taylor.

St Albans: Bastock, Deeney, Smith (Frater 78)), A Martin (Magwood 74), B Martin ©, Everitt, Sulaiman, Fisher, Effiong, Roberts, R Martin (Peters 82); unused Shields, Chaves.

RB Knight (Hants); ARs P Byfield & B Cobb (both Dorset); Att 307.