DAVE Herbert claimed his Folland Sports side spurned enough chances to win six games in a 2-2 Sydenhams Wessex Premier draw with fellow strugglers Alresford Town.

Rock-bottom Follands fell behind to Craig Bryant’s sixth-minute header, but hit back to lead thanks to strikes from Matty Andrews and Cain Prentice, writes Paul McNamara.

But Herbert’s men were reeled back in by John Mulhern’s gloriously taken equaliser, before seeing half-time sub Damien Gorman red-carded for his second bookable offence.

“It’s two points lost,” said Follands boss Herbert. “We were dragged down to their level, football wise. We should have stuck to our own game. We had enough chances to win about six games, but you have to take them.”

Prentice, on his second outing following a three-match suspension, delivered a fearless performance, packed with purpose and menace.

The attacker’s efforts earned the plaudits of his manager, who is adamant that motivating his troops - now nine points adrift of safety - for Wednesday’s clash at Whitchurch won’t be a problem.

“Cain was extremely sharp,” said Herbert. “He’s not yet fully fit, but he’s starting to hit the ground running, so he’s a massive positive.

“I’m always motivated and that is rubbing off on the lads. It won’t be too hard to get up for Wednesday. It’s still mathematically possible to survive and I’m not the sort to give up.”

Alresford remain two points ahead of Follands - and the visitors’ assistant boss Andy Darnton was also frustrated not to put more of a dent in the gap to 19th-placed Fawley.

He said: “It was disappointing. We really wanted to win, to try and catch Fawley. But the draw was probably a fair result.

“The frustration is that we can’t get the same team out every week. The commitment from some of the lads is not good and that needs to be addressed next season, regardless of which league we’re in.”

Darnton acknowledged the class inherent in Alresford’s second strike.

Brian Howard lifted a cunning ball over the top of the rearguard, with Mulhern capitalising in ruthless fashion.

“It was a well-worked goal,” said Darnton. “Brian has got that touch of class. He sees things that other players don’t and he can unlock defences for us.

“Then it was a fantastic finish.”

Darnton was also quick to point to the positive, energetic influence of half-time sub Ryan Davies, on what was the young striker’s second appearance.

And he insists he saw enough promise in his side’s performance to afford hope of a first win in 11 league matches when they host AFC Portchester tomorrow night (Tuesday).

“It’s a big one for us,” he said.