A LAST gasp equaliser deep into injury time from Nathan Edwards kept the Bluebirds' FA trophy dreams alive in manager Steve White's first game in charge.

Only last week White said he was concerned at the side's habit of conceding goals in the last quarter of matches.

But the boot was on the other foot on Saturday as a spirited Chippenham Town side fought to the final whistle to book themselves a replay at Basingstoke

Chippenham's run of bad luck looked set to continue as Adie Mings was forced out of selection through illness and Danny Bailey limped off four minutes into the game at Hardenhuish Park with a knee injury.

But bad turned to worse when Basingstoke took the lead after 18 minutes when striker Neville Roach collected a long clearance on the edge of the Bluebird's penalty area.

Chippenham's Goalkeeper Mark Hervin frantically backtracked to tip Roache's fierce shot onto the crossbar, but the ball cannoned back into the box.

The Bluebirds defence was slow to react and Roach followed up to bury the ball in the back of the net from close range.

But Chippenham refused to lie down and had two golden opportunities to equalise before half time as they began to dominate possession.

Ellis Wilmot''s cross found Charlie Griffin at the far post who headed the ball across the goalmouth, but it just evaded captain Martin Paul as he ran in at the near post.

Minutes later Davies played the ball into the box, which striker Charlie Griffin chested down before laying it back to Paul.

His low shot went straight at Basingstoke's keeper and was comfortably saved.

Basingstoke should have extended their lead before halftime, but Roach was denied by some magnificent defending.

Basingstoke's danger man Craig McAllister powered a shot at goal, which Hervin did well to parry. Roach looked to side foot the loose ball into the goal, but defender Gareth Davies slid across the goalmouth to clear the ball off the line.

Just before halftime Basingstoke were reduced to ten men when recent signing midfielder Ben Surey was sent off for his second yellow card.

The Bluebirds rekindled passion was epitomised by the performance of their competitive defender Davies who raged at his defence all afternoon, and ripped a flag from the ground in fury as the teams walked into the tunnel at halftime.

Chippenham were unable to take advantage of Basingstoke's lack of numbers at the start of the second half, before they also lost a man, when Gary Horgan was yellow carded for the second time.

The first 20 minutes were deadlocked as both sides looked for goals, but were unable to create anything more than half chances.

In the final quarter White pushed Davies up front as Chippenham's search for an equaliser became increasingly desperate.

Pressure mounted on Basingstoke's defence, but they counter attacked well and on 75 minutes Roach smashed a shot at Hervin who parried the ball away.

Minutes late McCallister breached the Bluebird's defence again as he broke down the left side, but his fierce drive hit the upright and bounced clear.

But just as all appeared to be lost the Bluebirds hit back.

Scott Walker dribbled deep into Basingstoke's half and fed the ball to man-of-the-match Davies who hooked it across the goalmouth. Griffin chested down and Edwards' scuffed shot bobbled into the bottom right corner.

Manager Steve White, said: "I didn't think we deserved to lose the game. There front two were very dangerous all day long, but I think we handled them over the 90 minutes.

"I was very impressed with the lads and I felt it was a good performance."