Set-piece specialist Michael Birmingham stepped aside and watched Kevin Murphy curl home the 85th-minute free-kick which gave Bognor a victory over Basingstoke.

Birmingham had already hit a post from a similar position and seen a fierce volley ruled out for a contentious offside verdict as the Rocks dominated the second half.

Defender Murphy applied the killer-touch from five yards outside the box.

Birmingham said: "I don't normally take free-kicks that side but I tried one beforehand and hit the post. It was too far out for me the second time but Murphs stepped up and hit a great goal."

Murphy was also denied by the woodwork, rattling the underside of the bar just before Neville Roach broke away for Basingstoke's 50th-minute equaliser.

Dan Beck scored the opener for Rocks from close range on 26 minutes and Matt Russell was later denied by Scott Tarr's stunning tip-over.

Birmingham added: "It was a very good, workmanlike performance and when we got the ball down we played some good stuff.

"Everyone wrote us off and made us favourites to go down. Well unlucky, that's not going to happen."