LEE Tomlin's freak goal left Witton wondering what might have been.

The teenager's potshot looped skywards off Jon Kennedy's palms before dropping into the corner of the net on the hour - Albion's hopes dipped with it.

But they deserved a draw following a grand finale.

Tony Barras' volley smacked the base of the post in injury time but by then Jim Vince's men had left it too late to stage a recovery.

Tomlin's opportunism - latching on to a loose ball after Barras dithered too long - stunted their second half progress until the dying seconds.

Before that they had shone more than Diamonds.

Graham Westley's strugglers were shorn of belief and bereft of any quality and, on this evidence, the pair could meet again in Conference North next term.

And Witton should have been in front inside five minutes.

Jon Ashton's attempted header back to keeper Scott Tynan was woefully short, sending Shaun Miller clear. But the teenager tried to round the keeper instead of shooting, allowing the Tynan to smother the ball.

What followed was a tussle of attrition.

Rushden were disjointed, Albion missing the craft required to prize open the visitor's defence.

Smuggling Liam Brownhill combined with Alex Brown on the half hour and, from the latter's mishit shot, Griff Jones was inches away from smuggling an opening goal.

Diamonds then fluffed two chances gifted to them.

Barras, having a rare off day, allowed an aimless through ball to bounce through to Daniel Webb but he made the same mistake as Mille allowing Kennedy to pounce on the ball.

Another hopeful long ball caught Brian Pritchard off guard a minute later, only this time Simeon Jackson squirted his shot wide of the far post.

He came even closer next time around.

After wriggling past ponderous Barras, the youngster's drive was blocked by Kennedy's outstretched leg.

Albion's appeals for a penalty were ignored when Miller tumbled following contact with Wayne Hatswell, before Adam Warlow miscued horribly from Chris Gahgan's inviting centre.

Diamonds improved after the interval and snatched the winner with their first shot on target.

Tomlin couldn't believe his fortune when Barras allowed a long ball forward to bounce past him, sending a scorching shot goalwards that Kennedy found too hot to handle.

It was less than they deserved.

Witton wobbled thereafter when another Barras blunder allowed Glenn Watson to send Tomlin clear, but Kennedy thwarted him with a smart block.

The hosts attacked more with will than wonder at the end.

Tom Spearritt smashed a shot straight at Tynan to spark Albion. Alex Brown made a hash of a presentable opportunity after combining with sub Carl Frost before Barras almost redeemed himself.

His violent volley against the woodwork from the edge of the box should have earned Witton another crack at Rushden before Tynan's fingertip save from an Alex Brown free kick.

Diamonds got lucky.