BEN Mills’ stoppage-time goal earned 10-man Witton a point from a frenzied meeting with Mossley.

The striker, making his first appearance at Wincham Park since a switch from Nantwich, applied a decisive touch from Anthony Gardner’s long throw.

Albion had fallen behind with four minutes left after substitute David Short fired in off the crossbar.

Scott Dundas’ men were a man down from midway through the second period following Gary Roberts’ dismissal as a punishment for his hefty tackle on Tom Pratt, although Mitchell Bryant – a trialist at Witton last summer – escaped similar censure following a clash with Jon Beaumont in the aftermath.

There were other flashpoints too.

Danny Andrews, lucky himself to only be cautioned after fouling John Bennett in the early exchanges, thought he had put Albion in front direct from a free kick with a quarter of an hour left.

However a linesman’s flag, possibly for offside, meant it did not count.

Gardner, on his 200th appearance in Witton’s red and white, delivered a cross that Lee Cropper directed off-target in the first half.

At the other end, goalkeeper Danny Roberts dived at full stretch to thwart Bryant.

Andrews headed wide debutant Niall Green’s cross, while Scott Lycett blocked a close-range attempt to deny Mossley.

Josh Greenhalgh, after a free kick had been drilled into a defensive wall, fired just over.

Alex Titchiner was next to glimpse at goal, following fine approach play by Gary Roberts, only for a defender to deny him.

Albion went close in the second period, first when the visitors’ custodian Will Jones pushed away a Titchiner attempt.

He was relieved when Darren Chadwick’s header missed by inches shortly afterwards.

Roberts’ dismissal followed, then Mossley captain Andy Keogh’s attempt was parried by Danny Roberts.

Andrews’ next effort hit a prone back-marker, while Sam Robinson headed high from a free kick for the visitors.

Short, a squad member at 1874 Northwich last season, had served a warning when his shot – from fellow replacement Rhys Nevins’ assist, hit the crossbar.

He was less forgiving when again served by Nevins shortly afterwards.

But Witton did not buckle, avoiding back-to-back defeats when Mills blasted through a crowded penalty area in injury time.

Witton | Danny Roberts (GK), Gardner, Green, Gary Roberts, Lycett (Diskin 89), Chadwick, Baker, Beaumont, Cropper (Mills 69), Titchiner (Dawson 78), Andrews Subs not used Warburton, Smith Goal Mills 90 (+4) Booked Andrews, Green (both fouls) Sent off Gary Roberts (foul)

Mossley | Jones (GK), Henson (Horrocks 78), Greenhalgh, Dean, Bennett, McGonigle, Breslin, Keogh, Robinson (Nevins 78), Pratt, Bryant (Short 66) Subs not used Pritchard, Howell Goal Short 86 Booked Bryant (ungentlemanly conduct), McGonigle (foul)

Referee Kevin Mattocks        

Attendance 281

Additional reporting by Phil Chadwick