Michael Brandon reaches a personal landmark in 1874 Northwich draw at Ashton Athletic

The striker became the first in the club’s colours to score 50 goals, in his case from less than 70 starts, when he met Matthew Ward’s cross with a thumping header after an hour.

Now 34, he has hit the net a dozen times in 15 league games this season.

But Isaac Kusaloka crashed the party with a leveller in stoppage time to keep his side – for now at least – ahead of Ian Street’s men in the Premier Division table.

An even contest featured an early attempt apiece, with Kusaloka prompting fit-again goalkeeper Matthew Conkie to block while at the other end Stuart Wellstead called Ashton custodian Jason Foulds into action.

Ryan Mitchell smuggled Sam Bailey’s header from off the goal-line, then timed a tackle perfectly to deny Kusaloka.

1874 improved after the interval, when Brandon flashed a diving header wide and Ryan Stewart’s shot from the edge of the penalty area was off-target.

They took the lead when Brandon, at the far post, met Ward’s cross.

A penalty appeal by the visitors followed when a defender appeared to grab hold of substitute Chris Lunn’s shirt when he stretched to meet a set piece, scuffing his effort on goal.

Ashton applied pressure in the closing stages as they searched for an equaliser, which arrived in the fourth minute of added time when Kusaloka burst into space to fire past Conkie.

By then Street had been sent from the dugout by referee Barry Cropp as punishment for something he had said.

Ashton Foulds (GK), Edwards, Howard, Rowlands, Holden, Watson (Harrison 75), Regan (Bannister 75), Kay (Cringle 85), Small, Kusaloka, Bailey Subs not used Casey, Wood Goal Kusaloka 90 (+4) Booked Watson, Regan, Bailey

1874 Conkie (GK), Mitchell, Thomas, Bayley, Connor, Woolley, Stewart, Duckworth, Wellstead (Lunn 60), Brandon, Ward Subs not used Bowyer, Hankey, Woods, Beadle Goal Brandon 70 Booked Duckworth, Mitchell, Ward

Referee Barry Cropp

Attendance 202

Additional reporting by Garry Clarke