A BATTLING point was still a disappointment for Burnham Ramblers assistant boss Dave Patient.

A depleted Ramblers side battled back to secure a 1-1 Essex Senior League draw at Tower Hamlets on Monday night.

But despite a dominant display, Ramblers went 1-0 down before Lee Pleasance earned the visitors a draw.

Patient said: “It was a good point but we really should have won the game.

“But with the lead up to the game we had I thought we were going to be really up against it.

“We had nine players missing from the opening line-up that would have been on the starting team-sheet.

“And we didn’t have a recognised striker.

“But we were dominating the game and then we gave away a sloppy goal which really killed us.

“It was another goalkeeping error where the ball was spilt and they just put it in the back of the net.

“But Lee (Pleasance) scored a really good goal to get us back in it.

“The team that was out there gave it a really good go and we were disappointed that we didn’t win.

“In reality it felt like two points dropped.

“I gave two 17 year-olds their first team starts and they came in and gave it their all.

“If we could turn posssession stats into goals then we wouldn’t be having a problem.

“At 0-0 their was only going to be one winner.

“I suppose with a patched up side, away on a Monday night you should be happy with a point.

“The togetherness and spirit from the lads was there. I texted them afterwards to say thank you and got texts back saying thanks but we should have won.

“So that’s a good thing that they were also disappointed not to win the game.”

Monday night’s game at The Mile End Stadium ended all square as Tower Hamlets and Burnham Ramblers picked up a point a piece in the bottom half clash.

The first half was a very poor affair with neither side even remotely testing each others keepers so it was no surprise the first half ended goal-less.

The visitors came out the better second half and saw James Lighton and Lee Scott go close while Devorn Miller’s dipping long-range effort saw Burnham keeper Harry Alridge tip over the bar.

However, it was the hosts who took a 69th-minute lead when after Alridge had parried an initial Hamlets effort, substitute King Amieye followed up to poke home the rebound.

Burnham though rallied and gained a deserved leveller with ten minutes to go when after the ball looped up in front of Pleasance inside the box.

The Ramblers number nine duly volleyed a left-footed effort beyond Prezmecky White, who although getting a hand to the effort, could not keep it out.

Both sides tried to find a winner late on but failed so it ended all square.

Ramblers match at Hullbridge Sports on Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

But Ramblers will face Hullbridge at Leslie Field tonight in the Tolleshunt D’arcy Memorial Cup.

Patient said: “It was disappointing that the Hullbridge Sports match was off.

“It couldn’t have been any different than Monday night.

“I was almost having to turn players away.

“I had five quality players on the bench and was telling them if they didn’t get a game then they could play against Hullbridge on Thursday night.

“I am going to change things up for the match tonight.”