ASSISTANT boss Paul Gazzard refused to criticise his players despite Bashley blowing a 4-1 lead in a thriller against promotion-chasing Totton.

The Stags came back from the dead to draw 4-4 through Nathaniel Sherborne’s quick-fire hat-trick as Bash capitulated in the final 10 minutes at a blustery Recreation Ground.

An open match was in the balance after Richard Gillespie and Totton’s Jamie Whisken traded first-half goals, but Bash led at the break following Gary Middleton’s thumping header.

The hosts continued to press and grabbed a deserved third on 51 minutes, Totton keeper James Bittner clattering James Stokoe when clean through with the Totton custodian controversially staying on the pitch. Dave Allen scored on the rebound from his own penalty.

Mark Gamble rifled into the roof of the net as Bash looked set for a comfortable victory, before Sherborne bundled the ball home at the second attempt on 80 minutes to spark the fightback, with his scrambled second setting up a tense finale in the latter stages.

Bash looked to have weathered the storm, but in the third minute of injury time, Totton broke quickly and Sherborne cut inside, unleashing a 20-yard dipping effort to break Bashley’s hearts.

Gazzard told the Echo: “To let three goals go like that does feel like a defeat, but we said before the game we would take a point, so we’re still relatively happy.

“We were comfortable until their second goal – Dan Strugnell did well to make a good block and we just didn’t react around him.

“Their forward just got up and poked it in the net with three players stood around him.

“It’s been the story of our season – we should have gone on and won it but, having said that, I thought the boys showed good character to go 4-1 up, especially scoring two goals against a strong wind. That performance will stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

However, Gazzard’s positivity didn’t stretch to his views on Bashley’s season, adding that he felt the squad assembled by Steve Riley should have done better.

“Personally, I think we have underachieved. Maybe a part of it is psychological, but I think with the players we have got in the dressing room, it has been quite a disappointing season.”

Bash: Kearn, Smith, Strugnell, Middleton, Whitley, Casey, Gillespie, Allen, Stokoe, Gamble, Oliver. Unused subs: Green, Gazzard, Vokes, Penny, Foster.