Stafford Rangers 2 Coalville Town 2 - Report and Highlights
Stafford Rangers came from behind to grab a 2-2 draw and a crucial point against promotion rivals Coalville Town.
Super-sub Ben Haseley maintained the Boro's four-point lead at the top of the league with an equaliser in the 80th minute.
"It was a proper non-league game of football between two really good sides," said Rangers manager Neil Kitching. "I thought some of the football was tremendous from both sides. Our play in the first half was scintillating, we kept the ball and moved it quickly.
"It was a joy to watch at times some of the football that we play and they play.
"I'm disappointed we haven't won, but really pleased that we have come out of it with a point when it looked as though was wasn't going to get one.
Rangers, who have only lost one league game this season, couldn't have started any better as they took the lead with two minutes played after a Peter Till cross was glanced into his own net by Dean Freeman.
From this point, the hosts looked to dominate proceedings with Till and Sam Griffiths running at the full-backs before firing dangerous crosses into the box, resulting in Jon Adams firing over.
However, Coalville hit back and claimed for a penalty after Jared Holmes went down under a challenge from Jermaine Johnson.
The visitors did get their equaliser in the 28th minute when full-back Danny Jenno got to the by-line before crossing for Holmes to fire home into the bottom corner.
The Ravens took what looked like a crucial lead on 59 minutes when a surging run into the box by Liam Walshe resulted in a shot which was saved by Adam Whitehouse and the ball came out to Holmes, who hit the post before Nialle Rodney fired home the rebound.
Boro were desperate to get a point and maintain their league lead so threw on substitute Haseley in the 59th minute and he almost made an immediate impact, forcing a save from Sean Bowles.
The visitors could have sealed the win when Rodney ran clear, but his goal-bound shot was saved by Whitehouse.
With eight minutes remaining, Boro got their reward when a ball into the box pinged around and Haseley fired home the equaliser to the delight of the Rangers manager.
Kitching added: "Firstly, it was a fantastic save and that's what Adam is there to do – his starting position was brilliant in the second half, which allowed us to keep them in their own half for the majority of it.
"My boys never know when they're beaten and you can see by the effort and the desire today that they were desperate to get a result for the club."
The leveller sparked a frantic last 10 minutes as Rangers went in search of the winner with Josh Craddock firing wide before ex-Wolves youngster Nathan Rooney came off the bench and put his shot into the side netting.
