Bristow left fuming as Town held by strugglers (From This is Hampshire)

Bristow left fuming as Town held by strugglers

10:00am Monday 4th March 2013 in Hampshire Sport By John Boyman

BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow was left frustrated after seeing his side held to a 3-3 draw by struggling Billericay Town.

The hosts found it hard to cope with the Essex side’s physical, ultra-direct style of play and needed a last-gasp equaliser from in-form striker Manny Williams to claim a point.

Bristow said: “It was important not to lose today but we are better than that and should be beating sides like Billericay. We came here today looking for three points and we only got one, so we’re disappointed.

“We knew it was going to be tough. They were very direct but we did not deal with their long throws and conceded two goals from them in the first-half.

“The way they were playing, the ball was in the air all of the time. Then they try to spoil the game, which makes it difficult to play – but we need to find a way to combat that.”

An ugly game ended in disgraceful scenes, with players from the two sides squaring up to one another on the pitch after the final whistle. The trouble continued in the changing room area, with two stewards hurt as they attempted to keep the warring factions apart.

Bristow said: “One of their players punched Tim Sills in the face and then ran off like a coward. Then they were trying to get into our changing room. That’s what we were dealing with today.”

Town are back in action tomorrow night, when they make the short trip to second-placed Salisbury City (kick-off 7.45pm).

“It will be a tough game but a good one at the same time,” Bristow said. “It’s always good to test yourself against a team who are right up there in the table.

“I do not think we will play as badly as we did against Billericay though. It’s the worst we have played for a while.”

Visit basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live updates from tomorrow night’s game.