CIRENCESTER Town dropped points for third successive league game as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Waltham Abbey on Saturday. 

Reegan Messenger's equaliser 18 minutes from time ensured the Centurions took a point from their long trip south to the capital, after going behind to Benjamin Baker's goal after the hour.

A shock defeat at bottom of the league Barton Rovers was followed up with a draw at Hadley the weekend before last and now their latest stalemate has seen them fall out of the play-off spots in the Southern League Division One Central table.

Cirencester made a positive start to proceedings down at Waltham and started on the front foot, creating chances. 

Levi Irving and Andy Lewis both went close to giving the visitors the lead and Nick Peare forced the home keeper into a save. 

Cirencester had enjoyed a dominant spell but were unable to make it count and at half-time the scores remained locked at 0-0. 

Jordan Morris had Cirencester's first effort of the second-half, cutting in from the right and striking just wide of the post.

The Centurions then went behind in the 64th minute as a corner-kick at one end turned into a counter attack for Waltham. 

Keeper Noah Phillips flicked the set-piece away and the ball was moved up towards substitute Ace'a Laurent, who then played it to Baker who carried the ball forward and struck a low shot into the bottom right corner for the opener. 

The response was farily swift from the Centurions and they were level just eight minutes after going behind. 

Manager John Brough turned to Tommy Anderson on his bench and it was the replacement who made an immediate impact to assist the equaliser. 

Nick Hancock pinged the ball from left-back towards the back post where Anderson managed to head it back across goal for Messenger to apply the finishing touch from a yard out.

Waltham looked to regain their lead at the other end of the pitch as Baker slipped the ball inside for Billy Holland to collect and charge into the Cirencester box for a one-on-one with Alex Harris, but the keeper diverted it behind for a corner kick. 

Both sides looked for the winner but it did not arrive and both had to settle for a point. 

Cirencester Town Development were also in action over the last few days.

On Tuesday night they were knocked out of the Bluefin Challenge Cup by Southam United after a 2-0 defeat. 

They remain bottom of the Hellenic League Division One table with just a solitary point and were beaten 4-0 by Stonehouse Town on Saturday afternoon.