Alfreton Town came back from Northwich Victoria with a hard-earned point under their belt after recovering from a tenth minute set-back.
Brian Dutton gave the hosts the lead when he swept a loose ball in from a tight angle after Paddy Gamble had parried a solid strike from Jimmy Spencer, following a swift breakaway after home keeper Curtis Aspden had held a Jake Moult header.
Anthony Howell levelled the game in the 79th minute though when he also pounced on a loose ball after Aspden's point-blank save from Paul Clayton, hammering home from the edge of the six-yard box.
The build-up stemmed from the wizardry of Andy Todd on the left by-line, his cross helped on by fellow substitute Jack Muldoon to Clayton at the near post, the goal thoroughly deserved by the Reds' endeavour after falling behind.
The first notable activity of the game came in the sixth minute when Spencer fired just wide after a smart run, then in the following minute Moult made successive headed clearances from right wing crosses.
Three minutes after Northwich had edged ahead a towering header from Nat Kerr flashed perilously close from a Michael Aspin free-kick, then a shot from 20 yards by Mark Danks had to be parried by Gamble in the 21st minute with Chris Shaw clearing the follow-up from Michael Connor off the line.
On the half-hour mark another good save from Gamble thwarted Wayne Riley with Jonathan D'Laryea hooking the rebound wide, then on 37 minutes Liam Hearn chased a long through-ball down the middle of the park before having his shot blocked by former Alfretonian Ryan Clarke.
Hearn then unleashed an exocet from 12 yards that whizzed inches past the far post in the 40th minute having been teed up by Ian Ross, then in first half added time Hearn scuffed a decent chance wide after good work by Clayton.
Three minutes after the break Danks should have doubled Vics' advantage when set up perfectly by Aspin's deep cross, but he opted to volley instead of heading at the back post and was always off balance as he made a complete hash of a glorious opportunity.
A low drive by Danks in the 53rd minute was always covered by Gamble, then Hearn forced Aspden into a great save three minutes later with Clarke having to clear Howell's header off the line from Shaw's resultant corner.
Todd and Clayton combined to send Hearn clear in the 69th minute but the keeper anticipated well as the Reds' leading scorer tried to place the ball past him, then from another accurate Shaw corner Aden Flint headed over at the back post.
The game petered out somewhat after the equaliser, but there was still one anxious moment for Alfreton to survive as Riley blasted a free-kick narrowly off target from the edge of the area with two minutes remaining.
Northwich Victoria: Curtis Aspden; Michael Aspin, Ryan Clarke, Matt Bailey, Nat Kerr, Michael Connor (Ian Herring 70), Jonathan D'Laryea, Wayne Riley, Brian Dutton, Mark Danks (Lee Elam 74), Jimmy Spencer.
Substitutes not used: John Newby, Ryan Brown, Luke Horrocks.
Alfreton Town: Paddy Gamble, Josh Law, Chris Shaw, Aden Flint, Matt Wilson, Ian Ross (Andy Todd, h/t), Jake Moult, Anton Brown, Paul Clayton, Liam Hearn (Jack Muldoon, 74), Anthony Howell.
Substitutes not used: Kyle McFadzean, Kris Bowler, Ben Mills.
Referee: Brian McGill of Rochdale.
Attendance: 481.
Bookings: Northwich Victoria - Wayne Riley (65, foul on Jake Moult). Alfreton Town - Jake Moult (66, foul on Wayne Riley).
Reds man of the match: Anton Brown.