Taking a point off of third-place Brightlingsea Regent “felt like a loss,” according to Soham Town Rangers boss Robbie Mason.

Soham produced one of their best performances this term against the side in third at Julius Martin Lane on Saturday and looked set to seal their first win in six matches thanks to goals from Ryan Horne and Darren Foxley either side of a Phil Kelly strike.

But, with two minutes to play, Regent’s Aaron Condon popped up to make it 2-2, leaving Mason to rue his side’s missed opportunities.

“It feels like we lost the game,” Mason admitted.

“We battered them all game. They had a decent spell in the second half and got their first goal but for the majority of the game it looked like we were in third and they were in 17th, not the other way round.

“We had a lot of chances, hit the bar from about eight yards out and missed opportunities where it was probably easier to score.

“The lads were positive and did everything we asked of them. We could have been 4-0 up by half time, but I think if you’d have offered me a 2-2 draw before the game we’d have taken it.

“There are so many positives to take from the game. We’re a different team to what we were a few months ago and we’re moving forward and progressing.”

And while Mason is still on the hunt for his first three points as manager – now a run of seven games – the former Royston man believes his squad has the talent to beat anyone in the Ryman League Division One North, including Saturday’s opponents, Haringey Borough (3pm).

“I said before that it’s only a matter of time before we go on a run and I think it could have started on Saturday,” Mason said.

“We battered a team that’s third in the league and there’s nobody in the division that we fear.

“Haringey are a good side but it’s a game that suits us down to the ground. They play on 3G which a lot of our younger lads are used to so we need to go there, play on the ground and play football.”