Lincoln United came from two goals down to claim a point against play-off rivals Daventry Town in the Evo-Stik First Division South League.
On a very cold Saturday afternoon at the Sun Hat Villas Stadium, United knew that a big result was needed to keep up the pace in their pursuit of the playoffs.
And it was the Whites that started the brightest with a number of chances in the opening 10 minutes of the game.
In the fourth minute, Nathan Whitehead failed to capitalise on an error by Daventry defender Jason Lee, screwing his shot wide when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper Ben Heath.
Matthew Cotton saw his long range effort comfortably held while moments later the visiting ‘keeper had to make a quick save down to his left hand side.
But then Daventry started to grow into the game and began to create chances of their own. Nabil Shariff, who caused United’s defence all sorts of problems in the first half, forced Sam Vince into a very smart save from a header and had a big chance to open the scoring but dragged his shot wide from inside the area.
And in the 26th minute, the visitors took advantage of their dominant spell. It was Shariff again with the opportunity, hitting the inside of the post with a left footed shot.
From the resulting corner, they went a goal up when Whitehead accidently headed the ball into the back of his own net.
At this stage Daventry were well on top, but United nearly found an equaliser out of nothing when Daniel Brooks unleashed a thunder strike from 30 yards out which cannoned off the crossbar.
In the 38th minute, the visitors’ doubled their advantage. Shariff shrugged off a challenge from defender Michael Jacklin and slotted the ball past Vince, despite the United ‘keeper managing to get a hand to it.
And it was nearly two goals in just as many minutes for the Daventry forward when he found himself in space in United’s area but was unable to keep his strike on the half volley down, and it flew well over the bar.
But the Whites did get a goal back just before half time when Ben Fairclough rifled his shot hard and low past the opposition goal keeper.
The opening exchanges of the second half were scrappy but Lincoln soon managed to get a foothold and began to create chances as they searched for that all important equaliser.
A succession of corners eventually led to Cotton unleashing a shot over the bar and moments later the opposition ‘keeper was forced into action, diving to save Whitehead’s shot at his near post.
At the other end Daventry very nearly got a third when Shariff’s curling effort went the wrong side of the goalkeeper’s right hand post.
But in the 63rd minute, United finally got their leveller after Jack McGovern headed home from a corner to give a huge boost to the United players and the fans at Ashby Avenue.
The Whites then went in search of the winner and very nearly found it right at the end of the match when a mistake by Heath led to a golden opportunity for Kallum Smith. All he had to do was to fire the ball into an empty net but a superb diving block on the line by a Daventry defender kept the score at 2-2.
And with seconds to go until the full time whistle was blown, United looked almost certain to grab the winner when McGovern was presented with a free header inside the opposition box. But he couldn’t quite direct the ball so instead it ended up on the roof of the Daventry net and the game ended all square.
Full-time: Lincoln United 2-2 Daventry Town