Sub Ali Chaaban, released last week by Bromley, made them pay immediately on Saturday by starting his third spell at Staines Town with a last-gasp equaliser.

A draw was probably a fair result in the end, although both teams will feel for different reasons that they should have taken the three points.

Despite the hot weather, both teams looked lively from the start, and the visiting goalkeeper was quickly in action to push a cracking Howard Newton drive round for a corner.

At the other end, Carew seemed stumbled when advancing towards the box and referee Serrano cautioned Swans defender Ifura for a foul.

Staines snatched the lead after 13 minutes, following a corner by Leroy Griffiths. Howard Newton shot towards goal and, although a defender blocked it, the rebound fell to Richard Butler whose drive had enough power to carry it over the line, despite a defender getting his hand to it.

The lead lasted only two minutes as Swans were punished for conceding a soft free-kick 25 yards out, when Gareth A Williams spanked the dead ball right into the top corner of Louis Wells’ net.

Butler had another decent effort which faded just beyond the post, but Harrison Dunk was enjoying a good game for Bromley and also went close.

Bromley capped a good spell of pressure with a second goal on 32 minutes, Ryan Hall’s deep corner to the far post was firmly headed home by skipper Rob Gillman.

There was plenty of action in the remainder of the half of a game that was by turns sublime and error-riddled, but always enthralling for the fans.

Griffiths had another powerful shot, and Butler had a drive blocked on after a good ball from Charles-Smith.

Then Williams drove an angled ball across the face of Staines’ goal, inches away from getting a tocuh from a Bromley team mate.

Perhaps Staines’ best more of the game came after 37 minutes, when Newton made a strong run before exchanging passes with Butler, and unleashing a super volley which drew an equally good save from Williams.

Butler linked similarly with Charles-Smith shortly after, but Williams dealt rather more easily with his shot, and a move involving Butler and Griffiths foundered on the precise tackling of Dunk.

Four minutes into the second half, Swans defender Simon Jackson was booked for a foul out on the right.

Carew sent the free kick into the danger area, and Gillman’s header was just inches away from giving Bromley a 3-1 lead.

But as the half wore on, and both managers introduced their first pair of subs, Staines began to turn up the pressure, in search of an equaliser.

A long free kick by Bourne appeared to draw a rare error from keeper Gareth Williams as he was unable to cling on to it, but an opponent was penalised for impeding him.

Five minutes later, a thumping shot by Griffiths from 12 yards was turned over the bar by Bromley defender Mark Corneille, before Bromley mounted what was becoming a rare raid, Marcus Cassius shooting just wide.

With nine minutes left, Staines seemed to have equalised, as a powerful Newton shot seemed to be arrowing for the top corner, before Dunk on the line reached up with his arm to turn it away.

Incredibly, the referee believed it had hit his face, but he had also missed the ball going out of play under his nose just seconds before, and then failed to notice both his assistants flagging for a substitution straight afterwards, as he pointed to the corner flag.

In the confusion that ensued, both Gordon and Griffiths had their names taken for dissent.

The substitution was finally made, Chaaban replacing Dominic Sterling, and it turned out to be a fateful change.

In the 90th minute, Butler twisted and turned in the box, before being tripped by Aaron Dalhouse, and this time the referee spotted the offence and awarded Staines the penalty.

Chaaban won the discussion with Griffiths over who should take it, and he marked his return by converting the spot kick.

There were four additional minutes, but despite half chances for Newton and Chaaban, there were no further goals.

Staines: Wells, Jackson, Sterling (Chaaban 82), Gordon ©, Ifura, Taylor (Bourne 69), Newton, Thomas, Butler, Griffiths, Charles-Smith (Onochie 69); unused Kamara, Woozley.

Bromley: GI Williams, Corneille, Dunk, Kember, Dalhouse, Gillman ©, Carew (Fray 60), Lee, McBean (Ibrahima 88), Hall, GA Williams (Cassius 63); unused Dolby, Henriques.

Ref: Anthony Serrano (Herts); ARs K Howick (Oxon) & A Mawby (Surrey). Att 366.

Harley Yates was the last-minute STFC mascot for this game.

Ali Chaaban has had an odd first few days back at Wheatsheaf Park.

He tested his fitness, and signed his forms, on Wednesday night, when appearing for a strong Swans reserve side which met Harrow in a Capital League fixture at Wheatsheaf Park. However, owing to James Courtnage's delayed arrival, Staines kicked off the game with only 10 men on the park, with the gloves worn by none other than Chaaban, keeping goal for the first time in his career.

He kept a clean sheet, and Staines later moved into a 1-0 lead thanks to a Marc Charles-Smith goal on the hour. However, Boro rescued a point from an 81st minute penalty, awarded for shirt-pulling, and converted by sub Miles Ajayi.

The Academy team had a terrific result on Thursday night, winning 2-1 away to AFC Wimbledon.

These clubs last met in the last game of last season, when a 3-2 Staines win at Kingsmeadow saw them pip The Wombles to the league title.

This time, the game was played at Banstead's ground, but was almost as exciting, with Staines scoring either side of half time through Bradley Murray and Callum Chickah, before getting a late scare when Callum Wellburn pulled one back for the home side.

Staines Academy skipper Alfie Arthur was due to represent Middlesex in Sunday afternoon's Harold Whiddon Cup match away to Huntingdonshire.