Northwich Vics 2 Halfiax Town 2

VICS twice came from behind, but they did not so much rescue a point as squander two.

From the 46th minute onwards they had an extra man following the dismissal of Nathan Joynes, but could not make their advantage tell.

Indeed, they survived as many scares as they created. A draw was a fair result, but Halfiax were certainly the more pleased at the final whistle.

Joynes was sent off after his careless elbow laid out Vics’ captain Michael Welch. Given the position, on the flank and midway into the home half, Joynes was guilty of stupidity rather than malice and the incident changed the nature of an exciting game.

Survival became a priority for Halifax and withbthe helpd of two good saves from goalkeeper Adam Legzdins they accomplished the job with too much surety.

He saved with his feet from Lucas Akins and shovelled a Jamie Mullan effort around a post. Her only had to stoop to pick up an underhit shot when a better chance presented itself to Aaron Burns.

Indeed, Vics could have ended losers but for Welch’s tackle on Killeen and a save from Lewis Edge that denied Andy Campbell.

Picking the ball out of the net was the first thing the on-loan Blackpool goalkeeper Edge had to do for Northwich.

Killeen made a swift break from midfield, Tom Kearney carried the ball towards the box and Craig Nelthorpe scored from 15 yards with an aid of a deflection.

Luke Horrocks probed a gap in the Town defence in 16 minutes which left Joe Byrom with room and Burns finished from close range.

In the 37th minute Jon Shaw fired straight at Edge - and the goallie reversed the action with his attempted clearance. The ball rebounded off the midfielder and into the unguarded net.

But again Halifax were unable to hang on to their lead and in the third minute of injury time they failed again to deal with a Horrocks’ ball into the danger zone. Mullan cut out Legzdins for Burns to poach his second from a yard out.

VICS (3-5-2): Edge; Welch, Belle, Kerr; Bowler (Carr 54), Mullan, Crowell, Byrom, Horrocks (Hanley 75); Akins (Barker 80), Burns.

Att: 1,024