A LAST-GASP goal from Tom Aldridge rescued Downton FC at Hythe and Dibden.

Aldridge crept in at the far post to smash home an unlikely equaliser for a precious point as they retained third spot in Wessex Division One.

Robins had survived two early scares from free kicks on the edge of the box, one of which cannoned off Charlie Aldridge's crossbar.

The visitors were then next to be denied by the woodwork through player/assistant manager Ben Smith's effort.

The deadlock looked to be broken at the start of the second half when a Hythe player was impeded in the area and the resulting penalty was fluffed wide.

It was a let off for Robins, but they did, eventually, succumb in the latter stages.

The defence was penalised again for a tussle on a long ball and Terry Cox curled over the wall for what looked like the winner.

But back came the men in red to deny Hythe all three points when, in pursuit of a leveller, were rewarded for their efforts.

Dan Telfer's hoisted a ball into the box and was nodded down by Smith who headed across the face of goal for Aldridge to stab home to make it 1-1.

Manager Colin Hopkins said: "We did not play well at all and, if I was manager of Hythe and Dibden, I would be gutted not to have taken all three points.

"However, although we lacked the quality today shown in our previous games, we worked hard and substitutes Harry Crisp and Tom Aldridge had an impact when they came on, with Tom scoring an excellent goal to keep us third in the league."