Richard Money was adamant 10-man Cambridge United were good value for the point Michael Nelson's 89th-minute header earned them in a 1-1 draw at Tranmere Rovers.
The U's fell behind to substitute Cole Stockton's 74th-minute opener and had to play the final 14 minutes with just 10 men when Robbie Simpson picked up a second yellow card moments later.However, the visitors showed some fighting spirit and went home with a point thanks to Nelson's late header from a Sullay Kakai corner.
Neither side was able to grab a stranglehold on the contest in difficult conditions at Prenton Park, yet Money was pleased with the effort his side displayed in their third game in the space of seven days.
"It was the least we deserved," said Money.
"I don't think you can ask the team to play too much better than that in the first half and second half we were just waiting to take the lead and kept looking as though we would.
"Then there was a mad two minutes, where we went 1-0 down and went down to 10 men. But it was a fantastic effort to pull it back and then not only draw but try and win.
"It was an important point in what was a really good game considering both teams had played three games in seven days. I'm incredibly pleased with the efforts of the players. We played some terrific football."
Stockton's opener, eight minutes after he had arrived off the bench, looked set to give Rovers their third win since last Saturday and the three points would almost certainly have kept them out of the bottom two at Christmas.
To see such milestones snatched away in the penultimate minute was particularly heartbreaking to Rovers manager Micky Adams.
"To come so close to a win is disappointing," he conceded.
"Overall I'm pleased, the effort was there again. I'm just disappointed we didn't see it through.
"If you'd have said to me halfway through that game 'would you take a draw' I think I would have taken it. Overall I can't complain."