Nantwich Town almost took all three points as they drew 1-1 away at Halesowen Town, writes Richard Scott.
Dabbers striker Aaron Burns (pictured) had opened the scoring on 16 minutes and it looked like Nantwich had the game won.
But in the second minute of injury time a goal from sub Joesph Hull cruelly denied the Dabbers the win.
Boss Danny Johnson was forced to bring in two Altrincham youth players with the current injury situation – David Brown, who started, and Jeff King, a second half sub.
The opening five minutes was all Nantwich, with the first real chance going to the Dabbers. Harrop broke forward to the edge of the six yard box, but sliced his shot wide.
Halesowen’s first shot on goal came when Thomas Tonks had a long range shot, but Aaron Ashley was able to save well.
On 15 minutes Harrop forced Sargeant into a smart save, forcing a corner. He took it, and, after a bit of a scramble, Aaron Burns fired the ball past Sargeant to put the Dabbers 1-0 up.
After a couple of half chances for both teams, Mukendi headed over from a Harrop corner on 24 minutes as the visitors looked to increase their advantage.
With 10 minutes to go in the half, Andy White had to be alert to clear the ball and the resulting corner was scrambled away to allow Burns to attack.
The Dabbers could have gone into the break when Harry Clayton hit a shot from distance which fizzed across the ground, eventually cleared by the Halesowen defence after Sargeant fumbled.
Mukendi had a couple of half chances, but the Dabbers had to settle for a 1-0 lead at half time.
Ashley made a fine save in the first couple of minutes after the interval from a Neil Mackenzie shot as the hosts tried to level.
Kyle Blake put in another sterling performance in the middle of the park and managed to mop up a couple of attacks, as well as trying to start a couple of Nantwich ones.
On the hour mark, Mukendi tried a bit of trickery in the box, flicking the ball up in the area before hooking it across, but the hosts were able to clear.
It should have been 2-0 when Clayton fired a shot at goal but it thundered off the far post and bounced away from the prowling Burns.
Halesowen could have been level on 62 minutes when Iyseden Christie, unmarked in the box, fired well over the bar.
Sub Jordan Johnson could have won the game in injury time when he raced away to make it four on one but it was cleared.
Then the equaliser came in the second of four added minutes. A long throw from Thomas Tonks found substitute Hull, who managed to bundle the ball into the back of the net.
The Dabbers will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Saturday as they welcome Matlock Town to the Weaver Stadium for a 3pm kick off.
Nantwich Town: Ashley, Brown, White, M.Jones (C), A.Jones, Clayton, Mukendi, Blake, Burns, Harrop and Meaney. Subs: Bramall, Johnson (on for Harrop, 88 minutes), Callaghan, Scott and King (on Clayton, 79 minutes).
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