Takeley boss Marc Das could not hide his disappointment as his side conceded with virtually the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 away to Barkingside.

The point from Monday’s clash keeps the unbeaten Station Road outfit on top of the Essex Senior League, but it was two points dropped for Das.

He told the Broadcast: “Before the game if you had said we’d go away to Barkingside, who are doing well, and get a point I’d have been happy, but I think with the way we played we should have come away with all of them.

“It was a real sucker punch at the end.”

Takeley went ahead at the Cricklefield Stadium in the first half as a ball over the top set leading scorer Charlie Cole free and he tucked home past keeper Sam Roach.

Paul Wright though beat a man and then fired an equaliser for the hosts into the top corner from 18 yards as Takeley failed to clear a corner.

The second half saw Takeley regain the lead when Paul Tiffen’s low shot found the back of the net and as the clocked ticked into injury time it looked like Takeley would take the three points.

However, from a free-kick on the edge of their box, Wright cured home left-footed for his second goal of the game to earn a share of the spoils for his side.

“The two goals they got, one came from a corner that we had a chance to clear and didn’t and the other came as we were running down the clock,” Das said.

“The ball went in the air, there was a little bit of panic and Joe Ryan was looking at the ball, but went into their man for an unintentional foul.

“Then the free-kick beat the wall and found the top corner, we just about kicked-off after that and the final whistle went.

“Afterwards I have never seen players so shattered as they didn’t get what they had deserved from the game.

“We had defended really well and our goalkeeper has not really had a save to make.

“The second half we should have taken our chances with Cole and Tiffen both having a couple of efforts.”

Despite the set-back, Das admitted he is delighted with the beginning to the league campaign which has seen Takeley secure four wins and two draws from six games.

Das said: “We have started the season better than we would have envisaged.

“We are happy with where we are, but we have more to give.

“We have not really shown what we can do other than perhaps in the opening win over Hullbridge Sports.

“We have George Wappett to come back and Jason Todd has been away for three weeks so we still have strong players to come back into the side.

“We have to keep going.”

Takeley are without a game on Saturday, but travel to Das’ former side Sawbridgeworth next Tuesday in the league.

It will be the second time already this season that the two sides will have met in a league encounter.

They played out a 1-1 draw at Station Road on August 13 with Mitchell Das equalising for Takeley after Gavin Cockman had put Sawbridgeworth ahead.