TONY Sullivan did not conceal his happiness after the final whistle, hugging Witton chairman Mark Harris and grinning broadly.

The visitors had not beaten Ilkeston, but a draw against hosts challenging for promotion – and who are also the league’s leading scorers – still felt satisfactory.

They even had the temerity to take the lead.

In the end, they tied for the first time this season on their travels following David Morgan’s marvellous leveller for the Robins.

“It’s a massive point for us,” said Sullivan.

“I shouldn’t be manager at a club like this if I don’t believe we can come to Ilkeston and get something.

“They’re a good side, a very good one, but we’ve robbed nothing to draw with them.”

Even with an attack blunted by the absence of Kane Richards following his midweek switch to Chester, Ilkeston were favourites to extend a winning sequence in all competitions to nine matches.

Predictably, playing for the first time without him, they floundered.

Albion, lined up in an identical formation, are no longer a soft touch either.

The teams traded one attempt apiece in the opening half an hour; Danny Andrews’ free kick forced Ilkeston goalkeeper Jordan Smith to save smartly, while Michael Williams’ glancing header dropped wide at the other end.

Williams met James Reid’s cross shortly afterwards, only for John Shaw to block his attempt.

Ilkeston’s best chance followed on the whistle, when Ashley Hunter diverted Reid’s corner goal-wards only for Sam Barnes to smuggle the ball off the line.

Jamie Rainford’s opening goal – his third in as many league games – arrived unexpectedly after 55 minutes, but it was a beauty.

He did not have to break stride to meet Luke Clark’s clipped pass, placed and paced perfectly, firing with power past Smith from the edge of the penalty area.

Ilkeston, who dominated possession throughout, can lay claim to a similarly stylish strike in reply.

Substitute Eli Bako, after scooting into space down the left, steered an assist backwards to Morgan who speared an unstoppable shot that had fizzed past debutant custodian Andy Robertson before he could muster a reaction.

Albion were almost ahead again instantly, but Hunter was brave to smother Jamie Henders’ blast at the back post.

They survived a scare too, Morgan skewing narrowly wide from an angle after John Shaw threw himself in the path of Williams’ initial attempt.

In a finale that felt more frenzied that what had preceded it, substitute Luke Gibson forced Smith to block with a boot at his near post when Witton launched a counter.

A win would have been more of a bounty than either side merited, not that their respective managers would have minded.

Ilkeston (3-5-2) Smith (GK), Wright, Maguire, Baker, Luke Shaw (Bako 68), Chettle, Morgan, Hunter, Reid, Williams, Duffy Subs not used Hodgett-Young, Garnett, Simons, Gordon Goal Morgan 71 Booked Williams (ungentlemanly conduct), Duffy (simulation)

Witton (3-5-2) Robertson (GK), Barnes, Harrison, John Shaw, Gardner, Corbett, Clark (Gibson 74), Andrews, Dawson, Rainford, Henders Subs not used Porter (GK), Titchiner Goal Rainford 55 Booked John Shaw (ungentlemanly conduct), Andrews (simulation), Robertson (foul)

Referee Chris Akers

Attendance 436