Martyn Rogers admitted that Tiverton Town's 2-2 draw away to Didcot Town felt more like a defeat after his side let in a last-minute equaliser.
Going into the match, Tivvy had not won away from home for seven games, but they looked on course for three points thanks to a brace from Jamie Mudge.
Yet Didcot's Ryan Brooks netted a leveller with a minute to go in injury time to leave Rogers with mixed feelings about taking a point from the match.
He said: "Before the game, if someone had said to me that we'd get a draw up there, then I'd have probably taken it. But, obviously, in the circumstances and the way we let a second goal in, it felt like a defeat.
"The boys did really well. We had a good start and a good response when they equalised, so it was a good performance by the players."
The Yellows took the lead in the eighth minute when Mudge fired home from close range after home goalkeeper James Foster failed to hold onto a cross.
Both sides then spurned chances to score in an open first half, but the hosts equalised 10 minutes after the break when Lance Williams finished past Yellows goalkeeper Chris Wright after a quick break.
Mudge then scored his second of the afternoon on 64 minutes, although Foster could have done better with his shot from the edge of the area.
It looked like Tivvy would hold on for victory until Brooks' header deep into stoppage time.
Although disappointed with the equaliser, Rogers said anything can happen when teams gamble late on.
He said: "There's so many goals scored in the last minute and, looking at the games on Saturday, it's amazing how many late goals were scored.
"Sometimes it can be a lack of concentration and teams that are down 2-1 will throw players forward, so it can be a bit of a lottery when the ball goes into the box, which happened. It's disappointing to draw in that manner.
"Didcot are probably in the same position that we are in that they struggle with heavy pitches as they're a footballing side.
"If you look at where they are in the league and where we are, it's a good result, but it could have been a lot better."
Rogers reserved special praise for Mudge, whose goal tally is now 10 for the season.
"It was good to see James get on the scoresheet and I think he's now into double figures for the season, which is good," said Rogers.
"James has been up front most of the season, anyway, other than injury, and if we can create chances, then I'm sure he'll be scoring more goals."
Tivvy now travel to Stratford Town on Saturday.Tiverton Town: Wright, Heidari, Faux, Bye, Goss (Phillips), Gardner, Hinds, Richards, Lee, Western, Mudge (Seymour). Subs not used: Bowhay, Rogers
