DORCHESTER Town boss Tom Killick shared how he feels “much more positive” after his charges battled to earn a point at home to Hayes & Yeading.

The 1-1 draw at the Avenue was as action packed as a low-scoring tie could be, Will Spetch’s opener cancelled out by Hayes’ Michael Fernandes.

Spetch was involved in further drama in the second period, the defender winning a penalty before being dismissed for a second yellow earned for his retaliation.

Dorchester’s 10 men did not have a lead to protect after Shaq Gwengwe fluffed his lines from the spot, Magpies seeing out the remaining 25 minutes.

Discussing the game, Killick told the club's social media: “I’m so much more positive about things after (Hayes & Yeading).

"I know people will just look at it as dropped points at home, and another match ticks by without us getting that all important win.

“But in terms of what the players but into the game and what I asked them to show after Tuesday, in terms of having a real personality as a side, about showing a little bit of steel, and their work ethic.

“All the things that I look for as an absolute baseline were there. There’s still a lot to improve upon, I know that.

“but if we can just have that baseline of being hard to play against, making sure that everyone is working really hard, making sure that everyone is together, making sure that we have got a little bit of steel about us as a group, then I feel we can really kick on.

“Those qualities were sadly lacking on Tuesday, but we showed them (against Hayes).

“I know we were a little bit disjointed, we weren’t as fluid as we liked to be, we weren’t as potent in attacking areas as we’d liked to be.

“But those things are a little bit easier to fix, they’re a little bit easier to fall into place. It’s the other things that are really worrying as a manager.

“So, the result is not what we wanted, but I feel everyone could see what the players put into the game.

“Going down to 10 men against a side that is very potent in their attacking play, so to defend the way that we did when we went down to 10 men was very good.

“Obviously we’ve conceded a soft goal and missed a penalty, and that ends up being the difference.

“But I’ve got no complaints about the players. I’ve been quite negative about a lot of things, but I’m not negative about them because I could see that they were all in.”