TONY Sullivan said afterwards he was more chuffed to pick up the point earned from this draw than any of the 16 that preceded it.

It’s easy to understand why.

Witton ended the match with three teenagers making up their defence, and a man down following an injury to skipper Anthony Gardner after using all of their substitutes.

Still title-chasing Buxton could not conjure a winner despite applying near-constant pressure during the closing stages.

But Albion, literally in the case of replacement Liam Gibson, put their bodies on the line to stop them from scoring.

Danny Andrews’ brilliant equaliser, which cancelled out Ash Palmer’s goal before the break, gave them an incentive to do so.

“That was my team out there,” said Sullivan afterwards.

“My sides show spirit like that.”

Their reward is to move, if only slightly, further away from the Premier Division’s relegation zone.

Next Saturday’s opponents, Matlock, are seven points further back.

The Bucks, buoyed by beating leaders Skelmersdale seven days earlier, were better in the opening half an hour.

Witton goalkeeper Andy Robertson pawed Alex Bryne’s driven cross from the right to safety, though he could only watch when Palmer’s cute headed contact with Jamie Green’s swerving set piece looped into the net on 20 minutes.

Albion’s number one was alert when Buxton attacked again, racing from his line to smother front man Liam Hardy’s attempt.

The hosts, switched from the start to a conventional 4-4-2 after playing a three-man defence in the previous nine matches, responded before the break.

Andrews’ lob dipped too late, while Alex Titchiner was betrayed by a boggy surface from taking a lofted pass in his stride.

When they did find the net, twice, a linesman’s flag ruled the player who made a decisive touch to be in an offside position.

That momentum was still with Witton when they levelled on 55 minutes, Andrews spearing an unstoppable shot into the top corner after Luke Clark had nudged a short corner into his path.

Caught napping by Albion’s ingenuity, Buxton were jolted.

But they did not get up a head of steam until time was close to running out.

Shaun Tuton ought to have scored when he skipped along the six-yard box in search of a gap through which to send a shot.

He delayed too long and Gibson, prone on the floor, somehow diverted the striker’s effort to safety.

Laurie Wilson’s drive flashed past an upright as the Bucks limbered up to land a match-winning blow but Albion, after defensive duo Gardner and John Shaw had limped off injured, simply refused to budge.

Instead they added a prized point to the three brought back from Silverlands in November.

Sullivan said: “This is a better result than that one.”

His side has shared the spoils with two of the table’s top three teams in the past month.

Next up are the Gladiators of Matlock.

On this evidence, Witton’s warriors will be more than ready for the battle.

Witton (4-4-2) Robertson (GK), Gardner, Goulding, John Shaw (Gibson 71), Corbett, Andrews, Clark, Joe Shaw (Simpson 81), Dawson (Henders 58), Titchiner, Rainford Subs not used Porter (GK), De La Bastide Goal Andrews 55 Booked Clark (foul)

Buxton (4-4-2) Ollerenshaw (GK), Byrne, Palmer, Young, Green, Burbeary, Niven (Taylor 61), Wilson, King, Tuton, Hardy (Reed 85) Subs not used Jameson (GK), Stevens, Ryan Goal Palmer 20 Booked Byrne, Tuton (both fouls)

Referee Martin Woods

Attendance 394