SO accustomed have Witton Albion become to scoring late that there was a sense of inevitability about Tom Owens’ leveller with four minutes to go.

There was relief attached too.

A point will perhaps feel more precious to the visitors, who remain in the thick of a scramble to finish in a promotion play-offs place.

For Warrington, who have failed to win any of their past three league games now, there is perhaps less satisfaction.

Yellows had appeared on a course for victory after Steven Jennings converted a penalty, awarded generously by referee Dale Baines for what he judged to have been dangerous play by Anthony Gardner, with half an hour left.

Indeed Carl Macauley’s men, themselves unable to afford a third defeat in four matches, created little in response.

But they’re a persistent bunch, and Owens smuggled James Foley’s corner into the net from close-range to poke another of Albion’s rivals in the eye.

They have earned at least a share of the spoils now from trips to three of the four teams above them in the table.

A swift start brought with it a reward too.

Foley rolled a pass into Anthony Gardner from a corner in the third minute, and the full-back’s cross was glanced into the far corner with the deftest of touches by Steve Tames.

Warrington, static, simply didn’t react.

Their tempo was too low against a five-man back-line – Macauley had recalled Nick Ryan in place of Cesaire – during the opening exchanges.

Tony Gray skewed an attempt over the bar after he was left alone at the far post on 16 minutes, and it proved a catalyst.

Hare was quick to snuff out danger when Devarn Green scampered clear 60 seconds later, and Jack Higgins headed straight at the custodian when he met Jennings’ free-kick.

An equaliser arrived on 33 minutes.

Gardner’s weak clearing header, from Adam Carden’s deep cross, fell at the feet of Green.

He duly steered a shot where Hare, unsighted, had no hope of reaching it.

The wide man, not followed when he drifted inside from the left, almost repeated the trick with a twice-deflected shot that the goalkeeper pushed around an upright.

Hare also smothered Tony Gray’s shot before the break as Town finished strongly.

Paul Carden sent on Joe Piggott and Mekhi Leacock-McLeod afterwards, prompting Maculey to switch to a four-man defence by introducing Micah Evans.

Warrington’s change had an impact first, and Piggott drew a foul from Gardner – according to the match official – when he stooped low while trying to prevent the defender from hacking clear.

Jennings’ spot-kick was emphatically struck.

The hosts repelled what Witton threw at them, which wasn’t much, for the game’s remainder.

That was until Owens sneaked into the smallest of spaces to nudge Foley’s set-piece past goalkeeper Luke Pilling with time running out.

He did the same against Stourbridge last month, and they hadn’t seen him coming either.

Town |4-4-2 | Pilling (GK), Adam Carden (Leacock-McLeod), Higgins, McEveley, McKeown, Kinsella, Goulding, Jennings, Green (Sean Williams 74), Gray (Piggott 46), McDonald Subs not used Bakaro, Barnes Goals Green 33, Jennings 57 (penalty) Booked Goulding, Higgins (both fouls)

Witton | 3-5-2 | Hare (GK), Wilson, Humphreys (Evans 48), Ryan, Gardner (Devine 75), Tames, Owens, Foley, McKenna, Jones (Paul Williams 80), Hopley Subs not used Cesaire, Neild (GK) Goals Tames 3, Owens 86 Booked McKenna (foul)

Referee Dale Baines

Attendance 479