We leave Somerset with a well-earned crucial point after a goal apiece was scored on Tuesday night away to Weston-super-Mare at the Woodspring Stadium.
The hosts managed to rescue themselves a draw when former-Yeovil striker Reuben Reid levelled with two minutes of regular time remaining.
Before the equaliser, we were a goal ahead after Jaiden Bartolo’s 74th-minute long-range thumper.
Understandably, Mark Molesley appeared deflated after the full-time, the result feeling “like two points dropped” after we were just moments away from securing a win away to one of the league’s title-fighters.
Though our performance should not be considered any less impressive after having gone toe-to-toe with a team who took Bristol Rovers to extra time in the FA Cup last weekend.
More importantly for us, our good run of form now takes us to 22nd in the National League South table, just four points off Bath City following their 3-0 loss to Slough Town.
Our run of results, now with only one loss in eight league games, sets us up for a six-pointer scrap this Saturday at home to St Albans City, who sit on the exact same number of points as us.
Guarded first half
On a cold Tuesday evening in Somerset, the game was always going to slowly settle.
However this didn’t prevent us from showing early warning signs just before 10 minutes when Jaiden attempted to pick out a teammate inside the box, only for the ball to be deflected behind.
Jaiden then threatened The Seagulls once again just after the game’s first quarter, buying himself space near the right byline with a single touch away from the Weston defence, until his attempted pass towards Leo Hamblin was cut out by Max Harris.
Leo, just before the half-hour mark, then pounded on a miskick from Jason Pope and drove the ball towards the edge of the box, though his subsequent strike slowly rolled wide.
Admittedly, though, our opportunities had yet to seriously threaten the opposition, who in turn had shot at Will Buse’s goal just once with a well-wide strike.
Then came Jordan Maguire-Drew’s free-kick five minutes before added time.
Pope poorly controlled the ball, which allowed JMD to pounce and win a foul on the edge of the box.
His dead-ball strike calmly looped over the wall and downwards off the crossbar.
A few of our fans began to cheer as the ball bounded behind Harris, yet it somehow stayed on the line before being cleared to safety.
With this being the closest either side came to scoring so far, this was perhaps a sign that momentum would soon speed up.
Second-half showdown
If there was any sign that the second half would be more exciting, our first chance 46 seconds in would be it.
Kick-off had barely begun when JMD swung in a delivery from the left, which was only cleared to Keelan O’Connell, who fired over on the half-volley.
Five minutes later saw JMD find a pocket of space and create room for a powerful shot at goal from approx. 20 yards out.
Harris, though, managed to parry away with both hands.
Our playmaker then delivered another dangerous cross just a minute later, the ball just missing Jaiden but once again having to be cleared off the line.
The next chance once again came our way when Keels’ initial cross was deflected right into his path.
The wizard winger’s effort however, fizzed past the right post at close-range.
With just 10 minutes in the second half played, we had already come within inches of opening the scoring on two occasions.
At this point, few could deny that momentum had swung our way.
Meanwhile, the only real threat the hosts had posed was via a penalty appeal in the 66th minute, when Dylan Kadji cut in from the right and tumbled to the floor inside the box.
The referee, though, waved away protests and allowed play to continue.
By now the clock was ticking, as both sides were searching for a goal that would put them in front.
Thankfully for us, that time would soon come.
74 minutes had passed when Jaiden beat two players down the right-hand side and carried the ball to the centre, outside the box.
Whilst that may have been expected for a player of his quality, few could have predicted what would happen next.
After our misfortunes of being on the receiving end of several wonder strikes this season, luck would change on Tuesday night when our young striker blasted the ball past Harris to give us a deserved lead.
With us now a goal ahead with just over 15 minutes of regular time remaining, we came close to doubling our lead when Jordon Thompson headed JMD’s corner-kick wide.
Yet, despite our dominant display, we were reminded why the Somerset side are near the top of the table.
James Dodd lofted the ball into the box and right into the path of Reid who coolly slotted past Busey to draw his side level.
With the scoreline 1-1 with just two minutes before stoppage time, we now had a different game on our hands.
Our lead could have been further wiped out just a minute later, had Ben Greenwood not valiantly blocked a cross that would have otherwise left four Weston players alone in the box.
As the game entered six minutes of stoppage time, the hosts appealed for a penalty once more, when Dodd skied over the bar from close-range, before taking a tumble to the floor.
While the midfielder didn’t protest, his teammates certainly did, Jordan Bastin booked for his open objections.
Ultimately, this piece of action capped off an eventually entertaining clash, as both teams would be forced to settle for a point each.
