Despite being the better team for most of the game Hampton had to come from behind twice to secure a point in a 2-2 draw at Heybridge.

Hampton continued their good form with a bright, committed performance which surely deserved all three points.

Without injured wing backs Graham Harper and Ryan Lake, Hampton had Marcello Fernandes and Barrie Matthews in those positions and gave a debut to Marvin Bartley in midfield.

Back in May, the Beavers had knocked Heybridge out of the play offs so the home side were determined to put one over Hampton.

Hampton started the game well, in the 10th minute Heybridge's keeper Danny Gay turned Dean Wells's driven free kick over for a corner from which Bartley headed just wide.

A few minutes later Glen Harris was deprived at the near post by Gay.

In the 23rd minute Richard Jolly shot for the home side but Matt Lovett was well placed.

Surprisingly the home side took the lead in the 35th minute, Gary Burrell given way too much room in and around the six yard area, firing in from a corner.

Hampton almost responded a few minutes later Lawrence Yaku shooting wide following an Ian Hodges flick.

Six minutes into the second half Hampton equalised with some good old fashioned direct football.

Lovett picked up the ball and sent a long clearance down the middle, Yaku outpaced the defence, 1-1.

A minute later Heybridge's skipper Ian Cousins (now wearing a number 20 shirt!) almost saw his header from a Fernandes cross soar into his own goal, it just cleared the cross bar by inches.

Gay beat a Kelvin McIntosh shot away for a corner, later blocked a shot from Hodges and turned McIntosh's follow up away for yet another corner.

An Alan Inns drive went off a defender for a corner. Then, midway during the second half some desperate defending deprived Yaku, Jon Henry-Hayden and Bartley as Hampton kept up the pressure on the Heybridge goal, surely a goal would come soon?

And it did! At the other end! Jolly played a one/two and made himself acres of space and with ten minutes to go the home side led 2-1.

Fortunately, justice prevailed and the Beavers equalised four minutes later. A long throw from Wells wasn't dealt with by Heybridge and Henry-Hayden from close range thumped the ball into the net to level things again, 2-2.

If it hadn't have been for Heybridge keeper Gay being in good form Hampton would have had all three points for sure as it was they had to make do with only one.

Hampton: Matt Lovett ; Marvin Bartley (Dudley Gardner, 77), Marcello Fernandes, Matt Elverson (Elliott Godfrey, 83), Glen Harris (Jon Henry-Hayden, 65), Dean Wells, Alan Inns, Lawrence Yaku, Ian Hodges, Barrie Matthews, Kelvin McIntosh. Sub not used: Rob Paris