Farnham Town returned to action after a three-week break with a 1-1 draw at home to Moneyfields in the Isthmian League South Central Division.

Owen Dean gave Town a 49th-minute lead, but James Franklyn’s equaliser three minutes later meant the spoils were shared in front of a crowd of 239 at The Memorial Ground.

Farnham had an excellent chance to take an early lead in the seventh minute. Joe Jackson slipped a neat pass inside to Dean, and Dean’s ball across goal picked out Adam Liddle at the back post, but Liddle blazed over from close range with the goal gaping.

The hosts continued to probe and Jordan Gallagher worked a yard of space in the box before hitting a left-foot shot which Moneyfields keeper Callum Smart tipped over for a corner at his near post.

Town keeper Hugo Sobte was called into action for the first time on the night when he showed good reactions to get down and parry away Jafer Mahammedkier’s right-foot effort.

Farnham then had the ball in the net when Dean hooked a ball across goal to Gallagher who headed home at the far post, but the assistant referee had his flag up for offside.

Sobte was called into action again on 39 minutes when he held Mahammedkier’s right-foot effort at his near post.

Town pushed for an opener before half-time and Darryl Sanders tried his luck from the edge of the box two minutes later, but his effort was comfortably held by Smart.

The hosts went even closer in first-half stoppage time when Gallagher’s left-foot effort beat Smart but hit the far post.

Farnham got off to a dream start in the second half and took the lead in the 49th minute when Jordan Stepney laid the ball off for Dean to emphatically fire home into the roof of the net.

Town’s lead proved to be short lived, though, and Moneys equalised three minutes later when Franklyn’s looping effort beat Sobte and nestled in the far right-hand corner of the net.

The hosts almost regained the lead a minute later when Sanders laid the ball off for Gallagher on the edge of the box, but Gallagher’s first-time right-foot shot was well held by Smart.

Moneys then went close a minute later when Jordan Pile’s powerful effort from 30 yards was well parried away to safety by Sobte.

Farnham boss Paul Johnson made a triple change on 65 minutes with Sam De St Croix, Great Evans and Ben Purcell replacing Gallagher, Liddle and Mark Waters.

Town nearly regained the lead in the 70th minute when Stepney headed wide from a corner when well placed.

The hosts went even closer seven minutes later when Jackson flashed an inviting ball across goal which Evans diverted wide.

Farnham continued to probe but were unable to find a winner and had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Next up for Farnham is a trip to Southall in the Isthmian League South Central Division on Saturday (3pm kick-off).