Substitute Kofi Anokye-Boadi’s superb late volley rescued a point for Chatham Town against promotion rivals Billericay Town on Tuesday night at the Bauvill.
Ibrahim Jalloh had given the Essex side a deserved lead but the Chats fought hard to get off the mark for the season.
Having lost 2-0 at Lewes on Saturday the Kent outfit made three changes to their starting XI with Jamie Yila, Elijah Anthony and Jordy Robins coming in for Miquel Scarlett, Boadi and Brad Sach.
Billericay started the game the brighter of the two, Jalloh shooting wide early on before Khale Da Costa blazed over for the hosts in a half of few chances.
The visitors edged ahead late in an ill-tempered first period, thanks to an excellent counterattacking goal.
Tommy Davis did well to clear the ball clear to De-Carrey Sheriff, who travelled forward setting up Jalloh to fire in at the near post, his maiden goal for Gary McCann’s side.
The lead could have been doubled in first half injury time Matt Johnson coming close with a header before Sheriff saw his shot blocked.
Chatham needed to change things and brought Sach on at the break and his physicality instantly made a difference, bundling his way through to almost level on 50 minutes but he failed to properly connect with a Yila cross.
Kevin Hake turned to his bench again bringing teenager Sam Sene-Richardson on and he almost equalised immediately but for a point blank wonder save from Billericay stopper Sam Donkin before Sach was thwarted soon after.
With the Chats pushing for the leveller the away side came close to doubling there lead when the impressive Sheriff rattled the post with the help of a superb fingertip save from Brad House.
And the stop proved crucial when in time added on Yila tricked his way into space and sent a brilliant cross in for Boadi to smash home, sending the majority of the 1,567 into raptures.
Freddie Sears had a half chance to win it late on for the home side but the points were shared in the end, a fair result on the balance of play.
Chatham Town: – Brad House, Bailey Akehurst, Jordy Robins (Sam Sene-Richardson 74), Sid Nelson, Stuart O’Keefe (Rowan Liburd 90), Jack Evans, Jamie Yila, Charlie Naylor, Freddie Sears, Khale Da Costa (Brad Sach 45), Elijah Anthony (Kofi Anokye-Boadi 85).
Goalscorer: Anokye-Boadi (90)
Billericay Town – Sam Donkin, Montel McKenzie, Jay Porter, Matt Johnson, Ibrahim Jalloh (Richard Asamoah 77), Ansu Janneh, Frankie Merryfield, De-Carrey Sheriff (Harrison Day), Tommy Davis, Ashley Nzala (Cain Keller 70), Jack Paxman (Ben Steward 90).
Goalscorer: Ibrahim Jalloh (42)
Attendance: 1,567
Referee: Tom Berry
Man of the Match: Jamie Yila