KENSLEY Maloney came off the bench to score a late equaliser as Bracknell Town drew 2-2 in a game of fluctuating fortunes at Chalfont St Peter on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

Robins had taken a first-half lead through Seb Bowerman, only for the Saints to equalise just before half-time and then take the lead.

And Town appeared unlucky not to have scored again when substitute Adam Cornell’s effort was ruled out for offside, but there could not have been more than inches in it.

A draw, however, was a fair result to this Bostik League game played in heavy rain, although the pitch held up reasonably well.

Despite dropping two points Town return to the top of the South Central Divison table with 26 points from 11 games, but with Hayes & Yeading, 25 from 10, Marlow, also on 25, and Waltham Abbey, with 24 points, breathing down their necks.

With Ryan Parsons still injured, Jonny Hathaway retained his place at left-back, while Ashleigh Artwell and Gavin James also made the starting line-up with Cornell and Maloney on the bench, which also included Ellis Day, a product of the club’s youth set-up who has been playing this season for Wokingham & Emmbrook in the Hellenic League.

After a tremendous deluge had hit the ground just before kick-off, both sides started a little warily of each other and there was little in the way of goalmouth action.

Jamie McClurg had a couple of half chances which flew wide, while the main threat to the Bracknell goal came from balls being whipped over from the Chalfont flanks.

McClurg helped set up the opening goal on 37 minutes, feeding Bowerman who crashed a shot high into the net from near the edge of the area, giving keeper Carl Dennison no chance.

Town looked all set to take the lead into the interval, but 42 seconds into stoppage time they conceded a soft goal with the unmarked Dan Fleming sweeping home Michael Kalu’s cross for Chalfont’s equaliser.

They had a good chance to regain the lead when Bowerman played in James, but former Ascot goalie Dennison managed to deflect the ball away and then Joe Grant was not far away with a header.

Cornell replaced Artwell at the start of the second half and he almost made an immediate impact when he headed in a cross from Joe Gater, only to be ruled offside, a very marginal decision.

And Saints, unbeaten in the league since August 27, celebrated that let-off by taking the ball down to the other end and Jack Mullan met Charlie Mitchell’s left-wing cross to put the hosts ahead.

That goal in the 68th minute came at a time when Robins were looking the more threatening side, so their 79th-minute equaliser came as no real surprise. Maloney whipped in a fierce shot from 20 yards that moved in flight off the sodden pitch to deceive Dennison.

Bracknell went looking for the winner and Cornell was bearing down on goal when fouled just outside the area by Alan Hedley, who escaped with a yellow card, and the free-kick came to nothing.

Town are home to sixth-placed Hanwell this coming Saturday (3pm) and next Tuesday (7.45pm) visit Cheshunt, who are currently fifth in the league standings.

Following last week’s 1-0 win at Egham when Carl Davies headed a late winner, Robins will host North Division side Felixstowe & Walton United in the third round of the league’s Velocity Trophy on Tuesday, December 4.