BALLARAT Red Devils have fought their way to an unlikely 3-3 draw against Goulburn Valley Suns.
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The McDonalds Reds rallied from a 3-1 half-time deficit to scrounge a point in the second inter-conference round of the National Premier Leagues Victoria One season.
Youngster Pat Karras levelled the scores with a goal in the 93rd minute after a scramble in the box.
An energetic Red Devils coach James Robinson described the two halves as "chalk and cheese" post-match, but heaped praise on his players nonetheless.
"Great kudos to the boys. I can't be more wrapt in them," Robinson said.
"I went and watched them (Goulburn Valley) last week versus Kingston and it was the best game I've seen across the NPL - they really impressed me."
"They've got good players and good areas to put the ball in the back of the net and that's what they did - they punished us."
The Reds dominated early, forcing the Suns deep into defence before a series of lapses allowed the visitors to score at the 12, 34 and-35 minute marks.
Red Devils captain Shaun Romein scored Ballarat's first after Dom Swinton drew a clever, if not questionable, penalty from a trip inside the box at the 32-minute mark.
Defensive errors have been a hallmark of Ballarat's season to date, but a steelier resolve saw the Red Devils outrun and eventually outclass their opponents in the second-half.
A largely uninspiring start to the closing stanza saw both sides make a calamity of errors before Simon Murphy got the Reds back in it when he blasted one in off the bench in a fashion that would set the tone for Karras' equaliser.
In Robinson's words, "pure desire and determination" got the home side back in the contest.
"The biggest thing for me is how they react to that (3-1 deficit), and today's reaction is fantastic," he said.
"I'm really pleased for them to get the point and get back on track."
Youngster Jake Francis played his first senior match for the Red Devils just over a year after a horrific leg break.
Francis looked more than comfortable in his time on the pitch and received plenty of applause when subbed off.
Ballarat captain Shaun Romein was instrumental in keeping his side together, while Dom Swinton and Nelson Salvatore caused Goulburn Valley's defence headaches for most of the match.
Goulburn Valley's Sean Ellis was brilliant down back and had a hand in most of the Suns' attacking plays in what was a best on pitch effort.
Ballarat's record improves to one win, two draws and four losses after seven rounds of the season.
