Charlie Lee spoke of his pride in his Yeovil Town players who fought back to earn a point at Barnet in the caretaker manager’s first game in charge.
The Glovers took the lead after just nine minutes when Tom Knowles robbed the hosts from a free-kick, burst forward and smashed home the opener, only to go 2-1 behind before Reuben Reid grabbed an equaliser eight minutes from time.
Lee was assisted on the touchline by injured midfielder Josh Staunton as the post-Darren Sarll era got underway in North London.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he said: “It’s been such a tough week with everything that has happened. To come out with a new person in charge, I am so proud of them.
“Everything about the day was brilliant including the fans, we sold so many tickets there, it’s just unbelievable. Stuff like that people don’t know what it means to me and the players.
“We were trying so hard to win for them and it just would have topped off an unbelievable week.”
The 288 travelling supporters at The Hive left the former midfielder in no doubt about their feelings towards him with “Charlie Lee’s green and white army” ringing around the ground from the first whistle until the last, something which was not lost on him.
He said: “I tried to concentrate on the game but when you hear the name singing your name it’s a very proud moment.
“I have loved playing for this club, every minute and to get my first chance of managing, I will do the best I can.
“I promised in my press conference on Friday that these players will work until the last game, they showed it today.
“You had 14 players today trying everything to win for those fans and when you get support like that, I promise you the players will give everything they have.”
Lee could not hide his disappointment at not winning match with a number of golden opportunities to grab three points after the equaliser, not least a header from defender Ben Barclay which went wide.
He said: “We started unbelievably well and looked a threat in all aspects, but in two spells were a bit sloppy and ended up going 2-1 down.
“As they always will, the boys were fit and will always go to the end and we just thought (the winning goal) was coming.
“We were gutted we could not get there in the end, but really pleased with the way they worked.”
Josh Neufville appeared as a 72nd minute substitute in place of Charlie Wakefield with Olufela Olomola replacing goalscorer Reid with four minutes to go,
Neufville immediately showed his quality linking up well with fellow substitute Sonny Blu Lo-Everton to carve out a chance moments after his arrival.
Lee admitted he is having to restrain himself from throwing the Luton Town man in to the fray, but said he is getting closer to a start.
The caretaker boss said: “We were told when we got him to be careful and we took him earlier than Luton would have expected, but they knew we would manage him well and when you have a player like that it is hard not to rush him back in.
“But the boys have been good, I thought Sonny looked excellent when he came on as well and Fela and that’s been the story of the last few weeks, it’s been the boys who have come on and made an impact as well.
“So we have people really pushing for a start next week (against King’s Lynn).”