The Navy hosted the Army in Portsmouth for a gruelling opener to the Inter-Services football competition, which ended with honours even.

On a miserable evening of pouring rain and biting wind, the two teams served up an excellent match with passing moves that defied the conditions.

The Navy started well, quickly settling into a pattern of quick passing and incisive movement that created numerous chances in the first 15 minutes, and buoying up the staunch supporters who braved the foul weather to lend their support.

Students of the Royal Marines School of Music gathered in the main stand provided volume to the support with renditions of many Navy classics mixed in with the odd football standard.

POPT Fraser Quirke (HMS Temeraire) recently returned from injury and looked sharp up front, and with the probing runs of CPO Nigel Thwaites (HMS Lancaster) the two combined to stretch the Army rearguard on numerous occasions as the hosts dominated the half.

But their only reward was a well-taken goal by Quirke after 12 minutes – after some slick passing the striker struck a crisp half-volley from 15 yards into the Army net.

And the failure to turn early supremacy into goals was highlighted by the need for Navy keeper OM Jamie McGall (HMS Newcastle) to make two good saves from Pte Neil Bartlett as the half drew to a close.

The soldiers appear to have taken a bit of an ear-bashing at the interval as they came out fired up and ready to counter the Navy’s dominance.

Within two minutes they were almost level, with only an athletic save by McGall denying Bartlett again.

The next 20 minutes were a real struggle for the Navy as the Army swarmed forward, with McGall denying both Bartlett and striking partner Cpl John Stephenson.

The continued rain made the surface slick and mistimed tackles brought a flurry of bookings for both sides as they sought control of the midfield in the final 20 minutes or so.

The Navy seemed to have weathered the storm and began to counter quickly, and only a slip at a crucial moment denied Quirke a second goal.

The Army brought on an extra striker in an attempt to rescue the game, and the tactic paid off when the visitors got a deserved equaliser in the 85th minute, Bartlett forcing home a half-volley from ten yards out.

A frantic final five minutes saw the Navy reduced to ten men when Mne Graham Carr was sent off for a second bookable offence, but the defence held firm with McGall making two more crucial saves, and confirmed the choice of the Navy keeper as Elite Teamwear Ltd Man of the Match.

RN (4-4-2): McGall, Foster (CTCRM), Price (CTCRM), Riley (HMS Neptune), Lister (HMS Collingwood), Carr (JSU Northwood), O’Neil (Headley Court), Wilson (HMS Glasgow), Hope (RM Stonehouse), Quirke, Thwaites. Subs: Allen (HMS Sultan), Willets (HMS Temeraire), Craddock (HMS Dryad), Barton (HMS Neptune) and Thompson (HMS Collingwood).