For the second game in succession the Shaymen had to settle for a draw after conceding in the dying moments. To rub salt into the wounds this time the damage was inflicted by a former player.

Halifax fielded a full strength starting eleven for the visit of in-form Northwich. The pitch had suffered badly over the previous few days following a combination of snow and heavy rain, making for a heavy playing surface.

Town opened brightly and as soon as the second minute a surging run from Ryan Sugden saw him round Vic's keeper Ben Connett before firing the ball wide of the target from 8 yards. Soon afterwards Lewis Killeen threatened when he met Steve Haslam's cross but his powerful header flew just over the bar. The early flurry of pressure soon paid dividends and it was Craig Midgely who was on hand to provide the finish. Killeen lofted a cross in which bypassed Sugden and found its way to the former Bradford man who confidently drilled the ball into the bottom left hand corner from 12 yards out after just 9 minutes of play.

The visitors responded on 20 minutes through Kieran Charnock who headed over from a set piece after Adam Quinn had conceded a free kick on the edge of the box. They equalised on 29 minutes with a move that again started from a free kick. The ball was floated in by Jon McCarthy and headed towards Ian Dunbavin's goal by Mark Quayle. Dunbavin pulled off a good save to keep this effort out but could only parry the ball into the path of former Shayman, Johnny Allan who sneaked in the back post to nod the ball home.

Halifax, although initially rocked by this comeback, continued to have the upper hand for the remainder of the opening half. First, Connett miraculously kept out Killeen's 18 yard shot and then shortly before half time the Northwich keeper took two attempts to hold onto an Adam Quinn header.

The second half carried on in a similar vein, although the early exchanges saw the Vics create the most. Allan was the main threat with a couple of long-range efforts and Quayle too tried his look from the edge of the box, but again to no avail. Allan did have the ball in the net on 67 minutes but his goal was disallowed with the referee blowing for a foul on Quinn.

It was then Town's turn to see a goal struck off by the ref. Midgely put the ball in the net but play was pulled back in order that a free kick could be awarded for a foul on Killeen. The home side weren't disappointed for long as Killeen's shot from the restart bounced of the legs of Connet and into the path of substitute Darren Mansaram who pounced from close range to give his side the lead on 72 minutes.

Halifax dominated the closing stages forcing a succession of corners as they looked to secure the points. Howell shot over from close in after Mansaram had nodded a Haslam cross to him at the back post. This was followed by long range efforts by the ex Grimsby striker and fellow substitute, Jason Blunt, both of which Connett had problems holding on to.

But then in injury time Allan delivered the cruelest of blows. Pouncing on a lose ball in the box he fired an unstoppable drive past Dunbavin to level the scores for a second time. The striker who couldn't cut it at his short stay with the Shaymen lapped up his brief moment of glory by celebrating in front of the home fans.

It was a disappointment for the Shaymen, who had been in control for long periods of the game. Chris Wilder described this one as a 'missed opportunity' and said that his side had 'enough chances to kill the game off'. The fact that these weren't taken helped to hand Northwich a point that they perhaps didn't deserve.

Halifax Town: I Dunbavin, A Quinn, D Ingram, P Stoneman (57 D Mansaram) , S Haslam, C Midgley, S Bushell, M Foster, D Howell (87 J Blunt), R Sugden (57 G Young) , L Killeen Subs: M Monington, G Young, N Ross, D Mansaram, J Blunt