After news that their victory over Purnell Sports would be chalked off and following a poor performance and defeat to Weston St Johns on Wednesday evening, Glastonbury needed a positive reaction with a result at Portishead.

The first real opportunity of the game fell to the visitors in the fourth minute as powerful frontman Seun Odusanya fired over the bar following good work from Sam Perry. The same player minutes later went down the left and hit the target, but the home keeper saved and the ball was cleared. Debutant Ellis Dening then curled a shot agonisingly wide of the upright with the keeper well beaten as the Dollies dominated early on.

Portishead scored with their first meaningful attack on 19 minutes when a ball into the right channel was squared and hit first time by an onrushing midfielder. Sixteen-year-old Glastonbury keeper Owen Searle making his debut made contact with the ball, but the shot had just enough power to dribble beyond the line for the opener.

Sam Mullins, enjoying a free role in the visiting midfield, then stung the palms of the Portishead keeper, before Glastonbury fell deeper behind in unfortunate circumstances on the half hour. Young keeper Searle came to clear a through ball under no real pressure and missed his kick, allowing Rob Latham the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. The goalkeeper’s blushes were immediately spared a minute later when a great team goal saw Kye Whelan cross for Perry to volley home his first of the afternoon.

Glastonbury had a good chance before the half time whistle to equalise after Mullins was released through on goal by a well weighted Whelan pass, but his heavy touch allowed the home keeper to smother. Playing into the strong wind in the second half Glastonbury knew that they would have to be well organised defensively to repel the long ball approach of a physical Portishead side, who also had pace in wide areas.

Within ten minutes of the restart Mullins bundled in an equaliser as the home side’s defence were beaten into submission by the ever-lively Odusanya. Searle at the other end produced his best save of the game keeping out a shot to his left against the run of play.

The turnaround was complete on 78 minutes when Harry Whittaker, forward from a set piece was bundled to the floor by some clumsy defending and Perry sent the keeper the wrong way from the resulting spot kick. On 84 minutes Odusanya was upended just outside the box, but Perry’s freekick failed to find the target. Glastonbury scored a fourth on 85 minutes through substitute Liam White, who was adjudged harshly to be in an offside position.

It was now a case as to whether the Dollies could see the game out as Portishead threw the big men forward in search for an equaliser and in the first minute of stoppage time Latham found himself a few spare yards in the area and he finished into he top corner to level the game and earn a point for his side.

Glastonbury can take plenty of positives from the performance and will count themselves unlucky not to have won the game. Next up they host Frome Town Sports at the Abbey Moor Stadium on Saturday.

Star Man: Seun Odusanya

Team: Searle, Russell, Bentley, HWhittaker, Burge, BWhittaker, Dening, Mullins, Perry, Whelan, Odusanya.

Subs used: Warren (Dening, 64), White (Perry, 77), Harper (Whelan, 86).