Dalbeattie Star picked up a rare point on Saturday.
But boss Eddie Warwick believes it could have been all three.
The Lowland League’s basement boys drew 2-2 at Civil Service Strollers to move to within a point of second bottom Edinburgh University.
Warwick said: “It’s a great point – but we should have won.
“It’s a game of two halves.
“We were the better team first half. We went 1-0 down but then scored a very good goal through Steven Degnan.
“He scored again and at 2-1 up we had three very good opportunities.
“One of those would have put us 3-1 up and in a much better position.
“We know how difficult it can be there as they’ve beaten Rangers, East Kilbride and Spartans.
“We can’t bemoan a point with the form we’ve been in but if you score that third goal in the first half it’s a different game.
“They were very good in the second half and applied a lot of pressure. We weathered the storm in the last few minutes.”
Star fielded former Rangers youngster Leyton Dunlop as a triallist on Saturday ahead of him signing a permanent deal this week.
A Matthew Cunningham screamer gave Civil Service the lead but Star didn’t buckle, drawing level through Steven Degnan.
And when Degnan’s corner found the net with the help of the wind, Star enjoyed a rare half-time lead.
However, hopes of a second win of the season were dashed midway through the second half when Matthew Shaw equalised.
In recent weeks, Star conceding first has been followed by an opposition goal rush and Warwick was pleased his side avoided that on Saturday.
He said: “There was something different – I think it was maybe because they weren’t ahead for long.
“I think we stunned them, then we scored again.
“It’s a big shift we’ve not capitulated. I think their goal was against the run of play.
“We’re really disappointed, we’ve watched video back and it’s two poor goals to lose.
Star have a busy week with Wednesday's loss to Broomhill Open Goal being followed by a trip to East Kilbride on Saturday.
“That’s what we need to try to get through the other end and keep ourselves in the Lowland League.”
