PENALTY PRIZE: Simon Weatherstone is congratulated after scoring
ON-LOAN trio Stephen Henderson, Chris Blackburn and Matt Bailey received huge praise after last night's 1-1 home draw against Grays Athletic.
The point has lifted the Terras out of the Blue Square Premier's bottom four on goal difference and boss John Hollins reckons his side thoroughly deserved their share of the spoils.
Jamie Taylor put the Blues ahead before Simon Weatherstone levelled from the spot in the second half after former Terra Adam Gross had upended Bailey in the box.
Hollins said: "It was a good game. In the first half we got in their faces and were unlucky not to get in front when their keeper pushed a shot from Stuart Beavon against a post.
"I have been on at Stuart to shoot more and that proved how it can make things happen.
"At that point we were playing well and looking in control but then they scored. Was it offside? It looked like it was but our luck does not always work that way.
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"The referee and the linesman saw no problem with it so suddenly we found ourselves behind.
"We then had to take off Michael Malcolm and put Matt Bailey up front. We also put Trevor Challis on and I was pleased with how we got our shape back and in the end I thought we deserved the point for our energy and work rate.
"I also thought our keeper was outstanding. Several of the saves he made were excellent. Three times the ball fell to Danny Kedwell and how Stephen stopped his shots I do not know but he did and was absolutely magnificent.
"We are now out of the bottom four again which is a good sign but we want to be four or five points clear.
"Saturday's game at Crawley is another massive one for us and we must go there and put in the same work rate. We cannot afford to be below par."
Commenting on the performances of two of his other stars, Hollins added: "Chris Blackburn relishes the challenge. He pulls people around him and lets them know what he thinks but it is his composure and ability to relieve pressure that makes him stand out.
"I also thought Matt was a revelation when he went up front after being brilliant at the back. The fact that he can play in two positions is a nice little ploy to have."
One negative that came out of the game was the injury sustained by Malcolm, who was carried off just before half-time after a sickening collision with Grays' keeper Nicky Eyre.
Hollins said: "He has got a dead leg on his head. That is the best way to describe it really. He has got heavy bruising under his eye and is feeling a bit groggy so we can't take any risks with him. We certainly won't have him for Saturday, as for next Tuesday we will have to see."
The Terras received five bookings on the night and the visitors were particularly annoyed about Weatherstone's early challenge on Gross, which some people thought could have been interpreted as a red card offence.
Hollins added: "I thought it was a great tackle. That is the sort of commitment we should have, he got the ball and that is all that matters.
"What I was disappointed with was the way they fell over three times to get a couple of our lads booked yet the guy who gave away the penalty got nothing even though it was a goalscoring opportunity."
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