Hampton & Richmond Borough chief Alan Devonshire was delighted with a point after his side battled back from a goal and one man down to secure a 1-1 draw with near-neighbours Ashford Town.

Midfielder Kelvin McIntosh saw red for two bookable offences in Saturday's stormy affair, which left defender Alan Inns needing hospital treatment following a clash of heads with Town keeper Aaron France.

The result lifts the Beavers into the top half of the Ryman Premier Division and four points off a top five slot, following a steady if unspectacular start to the season.

And Devonshire has blamed a paucity of league action recently for his side's inability to put a convincing run of league form together ahead of Saturday's FA Trophy trip to Windsor & Eton.

"By playing the FA Cup and Trophy at the same time you can go a month without playing a league game," he said. "I can't see the sense in it because it doesn't have to be that way and it can work against you if you are playing catch up.

"We are capable of putting a run of five or six wins together, but that is made more difficult with breaks and cup games. We will be giving it a go on Saturday and hopefully it won't affect us further down the line."

Hampton have played only two league games since beating AFC Wimbledon on October 7, with both resulting in battling draws.

The Beavers' Halloween date with Ashford got off to a nightmare start, with a misunderstanding between Inns and keeper Matt Lovett leading to Stuart Lake, brother of Hampton's Ryan, rolling the ball into an empty net.

A five-minute delay after Inns' accidental clash with France was followed by a missed chance from Lawrence Yaku, before McIntosh earned himself two yellow cards in the space of 60 seconds.

But the ten men of Hampton got back on level terms 19 minutes from time, thanks to Ashford's best player Jason Chewins slicing the ball into his own net.

Stuart Lake missed a great chance to win it then almost presented Hampton with another own goal at the other.

Hampton: Lovett, Fernandes, Lake, Bartley (Gardner, 46mins), Harris, Wells, Inns (Elverson, 28mins), Yaku (Godfrey, 74mins), Hodges, Matthews, McIntosh. Att: 326.

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