Martin Ling saw his side come from two goals behind to draw for the fourth time this season on Saturday, as Adam Marriott's stoppage time stunner earned a point at Wrexham.

Speaking after the game, Ling reflected on the point as a point gained, while also pointing out that there is room to improve after struggling to create chances before Danny Crow's penalty seven minutes from time.

"In the first ten minutes I was thinking about how comfortable we looked and before we know we find ourselves 2-0 down. I talk a lot about both boxes and I think that we allowed their goals too easily. Mangan peeled off Brian Saah for the first goal; it was a good bit of play from them but not so good for us. Then Rory lets their guy (Christian Smith) to get a free header for the second goal."

Despite trailing to the early brace of goals, Ling didn't feel that his side were playing badly. "I still felt that, even in the first half, if we could get the next goal then we'd be in it and I said that at half time."

"I must admit that it didn't really happen for us until the penalty, which I didn't really see, but I know the reason why he gave it because the one in the first half was a stone-waller! I didn't really see the second one but the first one definitely was so he probably gave it because he missed the first one."

Danny Crow converted the spot kick to maintain his 100% record from ten yards this season, and United changed their system after this in their ultimately successful bid to salvage a point. "We chucked Brian up and we'd already gone 3-4-3. They'd changed their play and went 4-5-1, so we took a defender off and brought Marriott on and put Gleeson, Saah and Partridge as a back three but by the time we got the equaliser Brian had gone up there as well so we only had two at the back."

Despite trailing for almost the entire game, Ling was rueful of the fact that a chance arose to win the match shortly after Adam Marriott's equaliser, but was content to settle for a point after seeing his side hold a great majority of possession for large spells but fail to trouble Sam Russell in the Wrexham goal.

"It was a point I didn't expect, it could have turned to three if Marriott had a better touch in the last minute but I think that's being too greedy. The run keeps going but even though we played alright I don't feel we worked their goalkeeper enough. We had two shots on target and a chance for Marriott but I can't remember a lot else from us. I can't think of a lot else from then either in terms of working the keeper."

Marriott's goal was his first ever at Conference level to add to his FA Cup goal against Ilkeston Town in November, and Ling spoke on the bright future the academy graduate holds at first team level. "I always know he's got goals in him and know he's got chances. He's now gone in as our number four striker and I've always got confidence (in him). I don't think he's quite ready for a start but if we get out of danger then that might be the time so start bleeding him in slowly.

"There's no doubt about it that when he gets out on the pitch he gets chances, he had two today. There was his goal which was a great goal and it was actually a better chance that he missed. You don't get the goals that he's had at CRC level over the last couple of years without having the nous of how to put the ball in the net. He can do that at first team level, it's just a case of releasing him at the right time."

United's eight game unbeaten run comes in stark contrast to the form before that, and Ling made sure he praised the spirit in his side following their reaction to going behind. Three times in the last eight days The U's have conceded first, only to pick up seven points from a possible nine.

"In terms of character and know-how and the willpower we've got now, it's a different dressing room. There's a different resilience about the place. They were all disappointed in the dressing room at half time, so was I, but we would never have got that back six weeks ago, there's no doubt about that. If you look at the last eight games there are four wins and four draws so there's a little bit of resilience in there and character in there as well."

United now have two homes games in a week against Tamworth and Grays Athletic, both of whom are below The U's in the table. Ling concluded by re-stating his desire to maintain the current run of results and end the season strongly. "We've got nine games left now in the season and we've gone eight unbeaten, so we want to go as long as we possibly can. I still think a top half finish is obtainable.

"If we can get onto the front half of the news screens by the end of the season then it'll be seen as some form of step forward from where we've been. We weren't expected to be top five this season but I certainly didn't expect a relegation battle.

"A few more points now and that'll be gone completely and we can go on and try for the top half finish."

Matt Ramsay

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