IN stoppage time, Danny Andrews puts down the ball ready to take Witton’s umpteenth corner.

It’s 2-2, and Albion have been attacking in search of a winning goal for what feels like longer than it probably has been.

On the touchline, the mood is fidgety.

Paul Williams, assistant manager for visitors New Mills, covers his eyes with his fingers.

Boss Garry Brown turns to face his number two, and both men puff out their cheeks while they take a deep breath.

Less than 30 seconds later, after defenders smuggle clear Andrews’ cross, the same duo is punching the air in delight.

They then embrace warmly.

Their side, beaten in every previous league match this season – all 22 of them – had their first point at last.

Nor did they get lucky.

Darrhyl Mason twice put the Millers in front at Wincham Park, where they were front-runners for a total of 27 minutes.

To Witton’s credit, they replied quickly on each occasion.

Casual observers may be surprised that Albion’s supporters were not on hearing the final whistle.

Indeed, the home fans’ response was a metaphorical shrug - they’ve been here before.

Witton were the only team that failed to score against back-markers Belper in the Northern Premier League’s top flight last season.

The year previous, they were the first to lose to a Droylsden side that was so bad it had failed to win any of their previous 38 Premier Division games.

This display was nowhere close to as dire as those ones.

On the contrary, Carl Macauley’s men applied pressure to opponents who were more obdurate than the league table suggests.

They needed a jolt to do so, and Mason duly provided one when he skipped around debutant goalkeeper Dylan Forth to put New Mills ahead.

Andrews sounded a warning when he arced a trademark free kick against the crossbar.

It was not heeded, and Witton’s leading scorer steered in a smart equaliser on 28 minutes after Rob Hopley flicked on.

Jamie Matthews’ attempt then lacked power after he had raced onto Billy Reeves’ raking pass.

The Millers had led a game just twice this term previously, most recently in November.

But they managed that feat in the same game when Mason timed his run perfectly to fool Albion’s flimsy offside-trap, again finishing clinically.

Witton stirred a second time, and Hopley forced goalkeeper Oliver Martin to block bravely before Matthews’ follow-up was diverted away from goal by a defender.

A second leveller arrived on 64 minutes, when Hopley arrowed a shot into the far corner.

After that, New Mills hung on.

They did so gallantly too, but were let off when Andrews dragged a shot wide with only Martin to beat.

The custodian had Jake Williams to thank too for clearing Hopley’s attempt off the line with time running out.

Branded the worst team in Britain by one national newspaper at the weekend, the Millers provided a perfect response on the pitch three days later.

Luckily for Williams, he only missed a few seconds of it.

Witton | 4-4-2 | Forth (GK), Parker, Gardner, Wilson, Dawson, Andrews, Reeves, Schofield, Carden (Titchiner 59, Main 83), Hopley, Matthews Subs not used Garner (GK), Parle Goals Andrews 28, Hopley 64 Booked Dawson (foul)

New Mills | 4-4-2 | Martin (GK), Williams, Rand, Pritchard, Golden, Woodhead (Hopper 68), Murray, Constantine, Anane (Allen 84), Mason, Douglas-Pringle (Walker 90) Subs not used Gibbs (GK), Adigun Goals Mason 12, 53

Referee Shaun Mohan

Attendance 218