WINCHESTER City staged a magnificent fightback to hold second-placed Salisbury to a 2-2 draw in front of a 555 crowd at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium tonight.

The Evo-Stik South West points looked to be heading the Whites’ way when Owen Howe fired Steve Claridge’s side 2-0 up at the break.

A cross by former City skipper Stuart Green teed up Howe for his first with just three minutes gone and he struck again on the half-hour, this time from Lewis Benson’s delivery.

Winchester were not done, however. Not by a long chalk.

With the hour mark approaching Adam Tomasso headed them back in it after a Craig Davis free kick had been saved.

The Citizens kept pressing and got their reward when centre-back Josh Harfield buried an 86th-minute equaliser, this time from a Jamie Barron free kick.

Winchester so nearly grabbed a late winner too, but Barron’s effort smacked the bar.

That draw sets City up nicely for Thursday's (7.45pm) trip to AFC Totton, who also bounced back from behind to bank a point last night.

Trailing to an early Omar Simpson goal at Paulton Rovers, the Stags levelled matters 1-1 through Callum Chugg with 31 minutes gone.

Gosport Borough’s Evo-Stik South Premier relegation ‘six pointer’ at Dunstable Town fell foul of a waterlogged pitch.

*ANDOVER Town’s grip on the Sydenhams Premier Division top spot is looking decidedly shaky.

Glenn Burnett’s side waved goodbye to two more precious points tonight when they were made to fight back from 3-0 down to salvage a 3-3 home draw with Team Solent.

Joe Wright and two Zach Glasspool goals completed the rescue mission, but Town will rue a rare penalty miss by set-piece maestro Mike Gosney.

That result has left the door ajar for chasing Blackfield & Langley whose resounding 5-1 win at Portland United leaves them six points behind Andover with three games in hand.

The Watersiders fell behind after seven minutes, but an ultimately handsome win was crowned by Craig McAllister in stoppage time.

Sholing endured a rollercoaster ride against Horndean, but emerged 4-3 winners.

Having scored through Byron and Dan Mason in the opening 22 minutes, the Boatmen trailed 3-2 at half-time as Deans trio Harry Jackson, Liam Kyle and Miles Everett turned the game around.

But second-half hero Lee Wort levelled with an overhead kick before smashing in a volley four minutes later to dramatically bank Sholing the points.

It was a good night too for Hamble Club who had first-half goals from Nathan Lynch and River Smith (2) to thank for beating Fareham Town 3-1. Callum Laycock pulled one back on 68 minutes.

Alresford Town were the night's top scorers, thrashing Bournemouth Poppies 6-0 through Sam Burt (2), Scott Munro, Adam Pearson, Ben White and an own goal.

Lymington Town also packed their shooting boots as Sam House, Ash Jarvis (2) and Jake King ganged up on Cowes Sports 4-0. 

In Wessex One, Romsey Town’s promotion hopes were dented by a 1-0 home defeat to third-placed Tadley Calleva – Connor Thorne the scorer. Romsey played for an hour with ten men.

League leaders Christchurch also came a cropper, beaten 1-0 at second-placed Andover New Street.

The deciding goal came from Callum Sweeney on the hour.