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Post-match reaction from first team coach Jason Brookes speaking after our 2-2 draw at Tiverton this evening:
“Tonight is a very tough result to take, because it's a draw that feels like a defeat when you concede that late in the game, with the last kick of the match. It shows you just how cruel football can be sometimes.
“I think overall we were probably good value for a win. It was very tricky conditions and a boggy pitch that maybe didn't suit certainly the way that we usually like to play, but I felt the lads had done superbly with it. I wouldn't like to say how many direct balls, set plays and long throws were coming into our box that they had to withstand and stood up to really well. And again, just so unfortunate that the one right at the end that we don't manage to get the cleanest, first contact on, drops down to their lad, who tucks it into the corner.
“Overall, the performance, we asked the lads for a reaction from Saturday, and we made a couple of tactical tweaks to our shape and our approach tonight, and I felt the boys done superbly with that, and we got the reaction we would want from this group. To go ahead and in that fashion with a lovely strike from Matty, coming in off the right-hand side and again, another wonder strike from Harvey, that showed that even after we got pegged back, we were able to go again and put ourselves back in the lead.
“So at that point, away from home, having worked as hard as we had, you feel like we've done enough there to take all three points home at that stage, but I think overall just seeing that performance, and the way the lads played shows just how strong a mentality we do have within this group, I'm just gutted for everyone that we don't have the three points that we deserve probably to show for it.
“There's many positive things we can take from that, and we'll quickly turn our attention to Saturday and start building towards the game against Portland back at The Avenue, and hopefully we can put another little run together like we had done previously and I think we'll be in good shape.
“Lastly, a huge thank you to all the supporters that made the journey last night. Hopefully we can give them all something a bit more to cheer about at the weekend.”