IT was a nervous return home for Royal Wootton Bassett as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Brackley Town Saints.

Paul Braithwaite’s side took a while to get used to their new surroundings at the Gerrard Buxton Sports Ground.

Bassett were inches away from marking their homecoming in perfect style only to be denied by the woodwork in the opening few minutes when Callum Wright, having stole a march on his marker, steered Dan Comer’s dangerous right wing free-kick onto the bar.

The hosts soon found themselves behind as Henry Jackson scored the first goal at the ground in the 10th minute.

Seizing on a Kalum Youngsam delivery, Jackson raced onto the ball played over the top before poking it beyond onrushing keeper Curtis Meare and slotting home from a tight angle.

Bassett restored parity after the break when Youngsam and Comer linked up well down the right before the ball was worked inside for Sam Packer, who, with his back to goal, sought to turn his man, only to be felled in the box.

From the spot, Stephen Olphert confidently picked out the bottom-left corner with Daniel Farrell, guessing correctly, unable to keep it out.

“We seemed to just be a little bit nervous and just sit and not overdo anything, so it was a bit disappointing from that point of view. But I think, taking everything into account, we have got to be happy with a 1-1 draw,” said Bassett boss Braithwaite.

“We probably should have won the game based on the number of chances we created, but we just snapped and we weren’t really in control in front of goal.

“We were a bit tense and nothing was relaxed - let’s put it that way. It was all a bit rushed.

“There was a lot to take in, but I can’t complain because the lads did what they needed to do.

“We’ve not lost the game and got the point. On another day, we would have won it.”

Bassett are back in action on Wednesday night when they travel to Oxford City Nomads, who kicked off their season with an emphatic 3-0 victory away at Abingdon United on Saturday.