Reaction from Spalding United manager Jimmy Dean after their draw with Kettering Town
Manager Jimmy Dean felt a draw was a fair representation of the game as Spalding held league leaders Kettering Town on Saturday.
The two sides shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw at the Sir Halley Stewart ground in the Southern League Premier Division Central clash.
Connor Johnson had given the table-toppers a second half lead that was cancelled out by Bart Cybulski's equaliser for the Tulips.
Dean said: "I won't get carried away and say that we deserved all three points.
"I felt that a point was well-fought for both teams and it was a fair representation of the game.
"The pitch and the conditions probably suited them a bit better because they're used to playing on a pitch that doesn't play too well.
"Unfortunately, with two teams playing on our pitch, ours is getting to a stage now where it is very difficult to string three or four good passes together.
"Kettering are very aggressive in their press and they're very good at it. They are a good team with good players which is why they're top of the league but the boys showed an appetite for the ugly side of the game."
Spalding had gone closest to breaking the deadlock with Lamine Sherif missing a good chance and then Cybulski seeing a close range header blocked.
Dean added: "We created a couple of proper chances against the best side in the league.
"I think we had the bigger chances. We've looked like a different team in the last six games but we still need to put the ball into the back of the net more than we do.
"We had three or four half chances in the first half and we need things to start going in for us if we're going to win more regularly than not.
"I can't be too despondent though because we're certainly going in the right direction now."
Dean was also full of praise for his squad which was missing the influential duo of Dan Lawlor and Liam Moore.
They handed a first start to defender Darnell Johnson who was playing his first competitive game since leaving Forest Green Rovers at the end of last season.
Dean commented: "It was a team performance and, as a manager, you want to see a buy-in from the players.
"We had 11 players who put everything on the line and then you bring on the substitutes who did exactly the same.
"They reacted really positively and worked their socks off which is what you want.
"You want a buy-in from the whole squad and everyone pulling in the same direction and only then can you be successful. I think we're getting there now.
"We can't get carried away because we're certainly not where we want to be. There is progression though and we've got belief now in that changing room."
Dean was also full of praise for an attendance of 935 which came out to support Spalding against the league leaders.
He said: "It shows the potential of this football club.
"I know Kettering brought a good following but it's the last Saturday before Christmas so for more than 900 fans to make the effort to be here is pretty fantastic."
The draw leaves Spalding in 14th place, three points clear of the relegation zone and six adrift of the play-off spots.
Their next match is a Boxing Day derby at Stamford.