MERCIAN United FC secretary Jon Jeffrey admits that he is ‘gutted’ not to have beaten Delaford on Saturday.

The Farnham Park side led 3-1 at the end of normal time with goals from Daniel Buckley, Olly Cole and Aleks Sundar.

However, the visitors took their foot off the pedal in time added on and Delaford snatched an unlikely 3-3 draw.

Billie Seagrove scored his second of the match before Rob Mehta restored parity with virtually the last kick of the game.

In an exclusive interview with the Observer, Jeffrey lamented: “It’s horrible when you think about it.

“If you said to me before the game that it was going to be a draw we would’ve taken it.

“But, looking back I’m disappointed not to get the three points. I’m quite gutted at the end not to have won it.

“The referee played a lot of injury time and I’m not quite sure where that came from.

“It was just a good game and we’re quite pleased. I thought we played well but we were relaxed and lost it in injury time.

“We’re in a bit of form at the moment which is quite nice for a traditional basement side like us.” The point leaves Mercian United in 10th position in the East Berkshire Division Four table.

They travel to bottom club Langley Hornets on November 29 (2pm ko), and Jeffrey wants his team to start climbing the table.

He explained: “We have made a couple of new signings and are quite confident at the moment.

“There are a couple of runaway teams in our division (Richings Park Reserves and Windsor Saints Reserves), who we’ve both lost to.

“But, I would like to be in the top four or five come the end of the season.

“We’ve got to start playing for 95 minutes and not 89. It’s entertaining but we need to concede a few less.

“We have got a good side but have got to tighten up a little bit at the back.” Jeffrey added: “Langley aren’t doing so well at the moment. We’ve got to start taking advantage of bad days because people do it to us.” Delaford chairman Keith Mounteney has hailed his players’ battling qualities to recover and secure a point.

Mounteney told the Observer that in his opinion a draw was a fair result in tough conditions at Iver Recreation Ground.

He said: “I thought that it was a hard but fair game. It was a bit of a battle in the mud.

“It was a pretty even match and we had a lot of players out. It was a real test for the young ones.

“We’re bringing 16-year-olds through but it wasn’t a game to comment on as being fantastic.

“We don’t give up and toughed it out at the end. It was that close but our players came through it well.

“It was a battle from the first whistle to the last and nothing to say it was going to go one way or the other.

“We’re trying to blood youngsters through the club and it was probably a point gained at the end of the day.

“Mercian will be the most disappointed to only draw because they were cruising to a 3-1 win.” Delaford face a derby at neighbours Richings Park Reserves tomorrow (Saturday, 2pm ko) with a tilt at promotion on the cards this season.

He commented: “I would’ve liked to have finished in the top-half because we’re trying to blood youngsters through.

“Initially, I would have been happy with that but the way things are going we seem to be pushing for promotion.

“It might be too soon this year but I will take it if it comes. If it’s a good time to step up then we will.

“It’s a learning curve for us this season, a baptism of fire, but everyone plays the same, to get the three points.

“Richings Park will be a test of our character and football, which we will look forward to.” **PICK up a copy of the Observer, out now, for all the latest sports news and action including our complete East Berks' League round-up** **FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter at @Observer_sports**