BOSS Rob Smith praised Halesowen Town’s “brilliant” performance as they drew with St Ives at the Grove.

The Yeltz dominated the game but fell behind to a well-taken Jake Newman lob in the first half.

The visitors shut up shop in the second period and Halesowen had to wait until the 95th minute to take a share of the spoils as Lee Hughes fired home from the penalty spot after Joel Taylor was fouled in the area.

Smith felt a point was the least his side deserved and he praised his players’ never-say-die attitude.

He said: “I don’t think there is any doubt that we deserved the win but we were also 30 seconds away from losing.

“I just said to the players that they couldn’t have given me anymore today. I thought we were brilliant from start to finish.

“The only criticism would be that the finishing was poor. We’ve worked out that there were at least 15 chances there, we hit the bar twice, absolutely pummelled them but the pleasing thing for me was that we kept going.

“We kept trying to pass, kept trying to play the right way, kept creating chances and nobody gave up.

“We’ve had two really good training sessions this week and I look at the squad and the players and they’re a good bunch. I’ve had enough dressing rooms to know they’re decent players and its just about getting them to play regularly together now.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t have more performances like that. We’re still buoyant but also a little disappointed because we really wanted the three points and felt all week that we were going to get them.

“That’s the best we’ve played since I’ve been here. We were tremendous.”