Louie Theophanous’s second-half goal helped St Albans City salvage a draw against Bishop’s Stortford at a soaking Clarence Park.

Morgan Ferrier had put the visitors ahead in the first half they dominated but City’s revival meant that both sides were left rueing missed chances.

Saints had been held to a point on Bank Holiday Monday against Chelmsford after a change of fortunes at half-time and this was more of the same.

Stortford started very brightly and were ahead on nine minutes.

De-Reece Vanderhyde supplied the cross from the right and Ferrier’s glancing header skidded off the pitch into the post and in.

The goalscorer looked dangerous all half and was causing plenty of problems for the City defence.

Ben Martin and James Comley made a couple of good last-ditch tackles but Stortford should really have gone in at half-time two goals to the good.

Tom Bender, who signed permanently for City last week, was caught in possession by Elliott Buchanan but surprisingly the Stortford hotshot fired low beyond the far post.

Saints did have their chances. A Louie Theophanous header brought a superb diving save from Ross Fitzsimons and a cross from John Kyriacou, freshly recalled from Cambridge City, skidded across the six yard box with nobody able to supply the killer touch.

The hosts needed a response in the second half and although it didn’t happen straight away, their fans were soon celebrating

Martin played a huge part with a sublime touch to Theophanous and the striker made absolutely certain with a thumping finish.

The goal sparked a period of good pressure from Saints with Theophanous to the fore.

A dribble across the box almost found Jonathan Edwards and then Jernade Meade somehow hit the post wityh Fitzsimons scrambling.

Theophanous had the best chance but for once his shot was the wrongside of the post.

With the game reaching it’s conclusion there was huge shouts for a penalty as a Stortford player seemed to handle. The referee decided no action was needed.

Kevin Krans had the final chance with three minutes to go but fired over.

Saints: Welch, Kyriacou, Chappell, Corcoran, Johnson, Martin, Bender, Comley, Theophanous, Edwards (Crawford 67), Meade (Krans 77)

Subs (not used): Thomas, Gibson, Green

Goals: Theophanous 56

Bishop’s Stortford: Fitzsimons, Vanderhyde, Herd, Ekim, Allen, M’Bongou, Merrifield (Abdullahi 77), Church, Buchanan, Ferrier, Moore

Subs (not used): Lee, Muleba, Gayle, Lovelock

Goals: Ferrier 9

Attendance: 524