SAMIR Regragui and Dave Merrick both scored braces as Longlevens twice fought back from a goal down to draw 2-2 at Ascot United last Saturday.

James Goodey and Theo Jones both had early efforts for the Yellamen, but the hosts did take a 25th-minute lead when Regragui turned back onto his right foot on the edge of the area and whipped a precise effort past Mark Harris and into the right-hand corner.

At the other end, Craig Beaton’s free header from a corner flashed wide and Brad Deakin’s free kick was easily claimed by Carl Dennison before the break.

Longlevens levelled early in the second period, however, when Merrick capitalised on poor defending and rammed through Dennison just three minutes after the restart.

Harris then produced a good save to tip Goodey’s effort onto the crossbar for Ascot, although Beaton’s follow-up challenge to deny Louie Gilpin from converting the loose ball was sensational defending.

Harris then parried Goodey’s left-footed effort as the Yellamen pressed forwards again — and they were rewarded when Regragui’s inch-perfect chip over Harris beat two covering defenders to make it 2-1.

The visitors made a triple substitution before Ascot’s Jason Sheehan existed for Yasin Allam — although Sheehan fluffed his lines when well-placed moments earlier — and parity was restored with six minutes remaining through Merrick’s penalty after Louis Bouwers dived-in and received a red card for his untimely lunge.

There was still time for Dennison to deny Longlevens all three points after more poor defending had allowed Brad Martin a sight of goal — the goalkeeper standing up well to beat Martin’s effort away.

Ascot face two tough games as they host Flackwell Heath on Saturday (3pm) and visit Thame United next Tuesday (7.45pm).