RIO Hawkins came off the bench to earn Warrington Town a point in a 1-1 draw at Alfreton Town.
In an even contest, Alfreton fired themselves in front in the second half through Dylan Youmbi.
Hawkins fired home from Bobby Bjork’s cross to equalise with 10 minutes left and he nearly scored a winner with a mazy run from inside his own half.
A draw was probably the right result in a game that was played at a decent tempo from the start.
The first half chance fell to Lewis Salmon on the counter attack, he was denied by a last-ditch Evan Gumbs tackle on the chase back in the box.
The Yellows’ first chance came off a counter attack of their own, Reece Daly winning the ball off Connor Dixon to create a two-on-one with Callum Edwards, who he passed to for Edwards to sweep a first-time shot that was saved smartly low to his right by Alfie Roberts.
Warrington wasted a couple of decent of crossing opportunities on the left, while Alfreton didn’t make anything of five corners as the game remained goalless at the break.
Alfreton gradually got on top at the start of the second half, the offside flag sparing Salmon’s blushes when he missed a tap-in after Mateusz Hewelt had got down well to save from Dixon.
They broke the deadlock on 58 minutes though, Youmbi easing Josh Doherty off the ball and then turning to shoot from 12 yards out.
It took the Yellows a while to turn the tide, substitute Harry McHugh – on at half-time for Lewis Earl – seeing his 30-yard free-kick beaten away by Roberts and then fellow sub Reuben Denton headed on to the roof of the net.
Roberts got down well to save a Scott Butler header before the equaliser came.
Butler and Evan Gumbs worked the ball to the right for Bobby Bjork, who had shifted to right back, and his low cross was hooked home by Hawkins coming across the near post.
Hawkins, who was worrying full-back Jay Abudu, then held up the ball inside his own half and turned away, driving through the centre circle and weaved in and out of a couple of defenders on his way in to the box to score what would have been a fine solo goal, but his final touch just showed enough for Roberts the ‘keeper to dive at his feet.
That would prove to be the closest the Yellows would come to a winner, while at the other end Gumbs crucially blocked to deny Daniel Odunaiya and then Hewelt saved well with his legs at his near post from Siya Ligendza.
The Yellows are next in action on Saturday at home to Gainsborough Trinity, with Tuesday night’s scheduled Cheshire Senior Cup match at Altrincham now postponed due to their FA Cup replay.
Alfreton Town: Roberts, Grumley, Abudu, Williams, Robson, Dixon, Youmbi, Salmon (Odunaiya), Ligendza, Fyfe, Nadin (Finney). Unused subs: Solanke, Wright, Kruszynski.
Warrington Town: Hewelt, Butler, Doherty, Earl (McHugh), Gumbs, McNally (Hawkins), Edwards (Denton), Bjork, Elliott, Daly, Goodwin. Unused subs: Bayode, McIntosh.
