AS Tom Bailey sprinted towards 1874 Northwich’s supporters to celebrate scoring what he – and everybody else at Brantingham Road – thought was the winning goal, the tale felt a familiar one.

After all, he had done the same seven days earlier.

His 25th strike of the season bore his trademark too.

Alert to pounce on a mistake by Maine Road captain Jonathan Mason, who slipped attempting to intercept Jason Carey’s flick-on, he swept the loose ball past goalkeeper Ryan Livesey with four minutes left.

Job done, and a long-awaited first win for the visitors in this part of Manchester? Not quite.

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Substitute Chrysty O’Brien, assisted by a deflection, curved in a stunning – literally and descriptively – equaliser moments later.

It earned a draw that his side’s stubbornness, and discipline in defence, deserved.

Afterwards, 1874 manager Ian Street’s face betrayed what he was about to say before the words had left his lips: “I’m gutted, we all are.”

That’s understandable, but his team has still lost only one of their past nine North West Counties League matches.

Six of those have ended in victory, leaving them only two points adrift of top spot.

With meetings against all their direct rivals, save for Runcorn Town who they have already despatched twice, to come, they have control of their destiny.

He stuck with a side that had brushed aside Northwich Victoria in midweek, and was rewarded with a swift start.

Bailey’s effort dipped wide of an upright before Carey, following a fine first touch, drilled off-target with his second.

Maine Road made chances too, and Connor Hughes lacked composure when jabbing high after Danny Thomas skewed a clearance into his path.

He repeated the trick, with an even clearer sight of goal, shortly afterwards.

Livesey’s best moment of the match followed, sprinting from his line to divert Carey’s shot after Sam Hind conjured an opening.

In an impromptu episode of ‘Whatever you can do…’, Greg Hall stretched fully at the other end to divert Matthew Morgan’s effort to safety after the midfielder made space for a shot on the edge of the box.

Referee Patrick Mahon inexplicably awarded a goal kick rather than a corner.

Bailey, served by Carey, was denied when Livesey blocked his angled attempt with a boot.

1874 began the second period the same way, only for their momentum to again dissipate.

Bailey appeared certain to score when he stretched to meet Hind’s looping header, only to divert the ball over the bar from close range.

Hughes headed high from Louie Inness’ cross at the other end, while Rhys Clooney shot feebly.

Street sent on Tyler Edwards, restoring width to a formation that had narrowed with Carey’s move inside to partner Bailey in attack, but the visitors toiled to create an opening.

Bailey was back to his ruthless self when they did, only for O’Brien to respond for Maine Road.

Street said: “The performance was good – everything that I’d asked for – but it’s definitely two points dropped.”

Maine Road | 4-4-2 | Livesey (GK), Senior, Louis Edwards, Mason, Inniss, Morgan, Broady, Tinker, Roe, Clooney (Burgess 72), Hughes (O’Brien 77) Subs not used Blundell, Steele, Breslin Goal O’Brien 88 Booked Senior, Tinker (both fouls) Livesey (time wasting)

1874 | 4-3-3 | Hall (GK), Connor, Mitchell, Thomas, Russell, Hare (Tyler Edwards 80), Mark Jones, Lee Jones, Carey, Bailey, Hind Subs not used Matthew Woolley, Jack Woolley, Whitlock, Millington (GK) Goal Bailey 86

Referee Patrick Mahon (Warrington)

Attendance 225