CHAIRMAN Steve Austin hailed Saturday's 4-4 thriller at Haughmond as Dudley Town's best performance of the season.

Only a last-gasp equaliser from the home side cost The Robins all three points.

The performance was even more impressive due to four recognised centre backs being unavailable and captain Alex Perry having to fill in at the back.

Austin said: "The players were gutted to not have got the win but understood what the performance means. It was our best of the season and we can really build from here.

"If we can play like that most weeks then we will certainly start to beat a lot of teams in this division."

Joel Ambalu had given Dudley the lead after 15 minutes before Haughmond hit back with a double to lead at the break.

When the home side extended their advantage ten minutes into the second half it looked like it wasn't going to be Town's day.

However, strikes from Lee Smith, Tyler Douglas and Daryl Hand powered Town to a 4-3 lead. Disaster struck when Town failed to clear a long throw with just seconds left on the clock.

Town were due to face Cradley Town in the Birmingham Floodlit Cup tonight before going to Wellington Amateurs this Saturday.