WEYMOUTH manager Bobby Wilkinson declared “the boys are still fighting” after the Terras twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Havant & Waterlooville.

James Roberts put the Hawks ahead twice with early goals in each half, swamping a terrific left-footed goal from Weymouth’s Brad Ash.

Roberts hit the post and Gerard Benfield made two big saves as Havant tried to kill the game off.

But when Weymouth needed it most, Keelan O’Connell rose to the occasion with a composed finish in the 91st minute to give the Terras a share of the points.

READ MORE: Havant 2-2 Weymouth - report

Although the result means Weymouth are six points off safety with only five games remaining, they have taken a point in arguably the toughest fixture of their run-in.

And the battling nature of the draw immensely pleased Wilkinson.

“The boys are still fighting,” he told BBC Radio Solent.

“I’m really proud because they kept fighting, even in the 90th minute. Then we could’ve won it in the 95th.

“That just shows the character. I’m trying to give them that little bit of belief. I don’t want them to down tools.

“Where we are in the league we could’ve just given up, but this group of players didn’t.

“It was a big discussion this week in training, just keep wearing the badge with pride. You’re Weymouth Football Club and we have to keep doing what’s right.

“I have to say, they deserve a lot of credit for that.”

Wilkinson also praised his side for sticking to an attacking gameplan.

He said: “That’s my mentality. I want these boys to keep believing and keep going forward. We know it’s difficult now. We know we’re really up against it.

“While there’s still that one per cent fighting chance, the right thing to do is keep going.

“We went 1-0 down by another sloppy goal but we kept digging in and that sort of character is very good for this stage of the season, which I knew was going to be difficult.”

On Ash’s strike, his 20th of the season, Wilkinson said: “I’m really pleased for Brad, he gives everything to me every week.

“I said to him how many goals did he get in the first ten games and he said he wasn’t playing. To me, that was crazy. I didn’t realise that until this week.

“I wish he was playing the first few games. He worked extremely hard for the club, just like everyone at the club.

“We are going in the right direction for all the plans we’re trying to do and get this club back to where it belongs.”

Benfield was another player to receive plaudits for his exploits at the other end.

Wilkinson said: “He made two brilliant saves. He’s a goalkeeper I admire and we need to get him confidence.

“Even though Zaki (Oualah) has been brilliant all season, I wanted to freshen it up.

“We went for Gez, he came in and he’s a good character for the changing room. He’s done really well.”

Weymouth host Bath City on Monday (3pm).