It's hard to tell if this was a case of two points lost or one point gained for Exeter City. On one hand, Brentford could have had the game dead and buried before half-time but for a mixture of profligacy and Paul Jones. On the other hand, City will head back to Devon genuinely aggrieved not to have taken all three points and will have felt they could have still won the game in stoppage time.

In truth, a one-all draw was probably a fair result on both sides. Brentford had looked dangerous for much of the game and it was easy to see why they lead League Two. But City's rearguard were in inspired form and Brentford were never quite sure how best to deal with Stuart Fleetwood's pace and willingness to turn and run at defenders, with Cozic, Harley and Sercombe all willing support acts going forward.

From the off Brentford looked to attack and City were under the cosh for the opening stages, with Damian Spencer proving a handful up front for the home side, although Troy Archibald-Henville and Rob Edwards soon settled into a partnership that saw them win plenty of headers.

But it was clear that this wasn't going to be the type of game where Exeter repelled the opposition attacks with ease, as the Bees were more than happy to have a go from anywhere on the pitch, and with their fluid passing movement it wasn't long before Paul Jones was called into action, producing a string of classy saves to keep Brentford out.

Paul Tisdale normally has the bench planned but there will always be unexpected enforced changes and when Marcus Stewart went down in an innocuous challenge there was an immediate signal to the bench that the veteran would be unable to continue, which called for the appearance of Ryan Harley to add a touch of creativity to City's attack.

The Grecians then put together their first proper attack of the game when Gill unleashed a shot and Harley attempted a follow-up, but Brentford still pushed forward and were helped by the number of free-kicks Exeter were giving away in and around the penalty area.

But with Brentford pushing up the pitch in search of the opener there was always a danger that City's attack, and Fleetwood's pace in particular, would expose a hole in the Bees rearguard and so it proved when, just before the half hour, a delicate ball from Harley set Fleetwood away and once the on-loan Charlton man went one-on-one with the keeper there was only ever going to be one outcome.

City's goal may have come against the run of play but it could be seen as a reward for the outstanding job Jones and the back four were doing for repelling wave after wave of Brentford attacks and held out comfortably for half time.

The Grecians soon came in for heavy bombardment after the attack and Billy Clarke's shot-cum-cross was block by Matthew Gill's hands in the area soon after the restart to give Brentford a penalty and a way back into the match but Clarke's penalty was poor and Jones had an easy save to his left.

The missed penalty was a turning point in the game. Had Brentford scored, there was a real possibility that they would have pushed on for a second. As it was, the home side somewhat lost their shape and composure and City gained a proper stranglehold on the game, matching the Bees man for man across the park, and the Londoners were further shaken when Spencer was stretchered off with a serious-looking injury just before the hour.

From that point on, it was as much a game of chess as it was football with both sides probing but often having to head back to the keeper and build their attack again. Twice City got in behind the Brentford back four when first Fleetwood and then Moxey drilled balls across the six yard box only to elude everybody.

With the clock ticking down, City were starting to look good for an important and impressive away win but there was little they could when David Hunt found space on the wing to fire in a shot-cum-cross. With the ball just stretching agonisingly beyond Jones and Tully, it fell to Billy Clarke after a small defection and the on-loan striker couldn't miss to level the scores in the final minute of the game.

But this goal didn't finish off Exeter, and although Brentford continued to push, the truth is both sides had enough quality to find a winner in the six minutes of stoppage time and while the Grecians will be naturally disappointed to have conceded so late in the game, a point apiece does neither side any harm.

Next up for Exeter are fellow promotion-chasers Wycombe and a win at St. James' would make it a very tidy Easter for the Grecians. With Jones in outstanding form and Fleetwood looking sharp up front, there's every chance City could be back in the automatics come Monday evening.