Andy Leader was an unhappy manager after watching his BAT side surrender a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at Cowes Sports.

Dave Roberts missed a potential third from the penalty spot for the Tobaccomen before Cowes hit back twice in the last ten minutes.

Although Leader blamed poor defending for letting in Andy Watson to make it 2-1, he felt the Yachtsmen's leveller was totally unjust. He said: "The ball was in our 'keeper, Gareth Barfoot's, hands and the bloke just went through him with a two-footed lunge and scored. When Paul Hodder complained, he got sent off for foul and abusive language."

After soaking up some early first-half pressure, BAT had taken the lead with a top-corner cracker by Andy Chance from Danny Gaines's cross. Five minutes later Richard Gregory laid the ball off for Roberts to fire across the 'keeper.

On the brink of half-time Cowes got a penalty for handball but Saturday's hero Dave Greening was denied by Barfoot.

"After all the emotion of playing in front of 2,700 in the Vase against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, it was always going to be difficult to go to Cowes tonight, especially as they'd just turned Thatcham over 6-3," said Leader.

"Before the game, I'd probably have taken the draw, but you can't help feeling disappointed when you've been 2-0 up until the 81st minute and had an unjust equaliser go against you."