Joe Denny’s last gasp equaliser earned Phoenix Sports a draw against Glebe in a game that both teams will feel that they should have won.

Twice the hosts came from behind but will rue the chances that they missed in an enthralling game.

Ollie Pain was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the early stages but Phoenix custodian, Steve Phillips, had a problem when the dry pitch caused him to slide out of the side of the penalty area holding the ball. As it was clearly unintentional the referee awarded a free kick but did not brandish a card.

Harry Gamble glanced a header wide from Jon Pilbeam’s clipped cross for Glebe before Phoenix missed a good chance when Alfie Evans found Marcus Elliott who did well to turn his man before shooting beyond the far post.

Veterans Ryan Hayes and Dave Martin combined to create a chance for the former, but Pain tipped his drive onto the post before recovering quickly to smother the latter’s follow up. Evans then broke through and let fly only for Pain to make another outstanding save.

Tom Cousins went on a great run down the left wing and sent in a low cross, but Elliott was unable to apply the finish before Glebe finished the first half strongly. Greg Benbow found Elliott Duncan, he played it back and Gamble placed his shot just over.

Duncan then curled just beyond the far post before firing well over.

However, they broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time. Pilbeam had a shot palmed away by Phillips and Jack Holland followed up to finish.

Five minutes after the break, Phoenix levelled. Hayes delivered, Elliott flicked it on, and Evans netted with a stooping header.

There were no more clear cut chances until the last ten minutes when Phoenix missed a great chance to go ahead. A defensive mix up gave Elliott room in the penalty area. He was unselfish and squared to Evans, but instead of shooting first time he opened his body to try and give himself a better angle but couldn’t force his shot home.

Phoenix were made to pay immediately. Substitute Stefan Cox received the ball on the right wing, showed great skills to work his way infield, then unleashed an unstoppable shot beyond Phillips.

Had Glebe held on, it would have been harsh on the hosts, but they kept fighting to the end and equalised in the final minute of stoppage time. Pain was expecting Hayes to whip in a corner but this time he fooled the goalkeeper by floating over his delivery and Denny arrived late to head home from close range.

Both teams will now go into F.A. Cup weekend looking to build on the hard earned point that they each won.

Phoenix Sports: Phillips, Douglas, Cousins (Parkinson 90), Bird, Denny, Clark, Hayes, Martin, Leppard, Elliott (Oshinowo 87), Evans.

Subs not used: Sedenu, Aikon, Goumou.

Goal scorers: Evans (50), Denny (90+2)

Yellow cards: None

Glebe: Pain, Holland, Benbow, Bath, Snelling, Cray (Hever 53), Duncan, Gamble (Cox 66), Pilbeam (Lankshear 81), Mahoney, Dyer (Rooney 66).

Unused subs: Green, Lankshear.

Goal scorers: Holland (45+1), Cox (84)

Yellow cards: Mahoney, Holland

Referee: Myles Hewson

Assistants: Paul Tabi and Silvester Aina

Attendance: 133

Pictures supplied by Dave Budden.