JOSH Heaton’s goal with five minutes left denied 1874 Northwich a victory in their meeting with Congleton Town on Tuesday.

The hosts had led 2-0 at the interval.

However the Bears’ midfielder converted from substitute Jonathan Cavanagh’s cross, after fellow replacement Emeni Adegbenro had halved the Bears’ arrears by converting a penalty, to earn a point for Ian Street’s side.

That may have felt a remote prospect an hour earlier.

Scott McGowan, a former favourite of Congleton supporters, steered in from the spot after he had been fouled by Declan Fletcher with less than a quarter-hour played.

1874 doubled their advantage on 39 minutes after goalkeeper Andy Jones kicked the ball straight to their in-form front man from a free-kick.

McGowan gleefully drilled it back past him into an empty net, and his side appeared on course to put behind them the disappointment of losing to Runcorn Linnets last Saturday.

The visitors improved in the second half and Declan Fletcher fired too close to Northwich custodian Greg Hall.

Meanwhile Taylor Kennerley could not hit the target after McGowan teed him up at the other end.

Adegbenro ought to have tested Hall when he found himself in a shooting space for almost his first touch, but his contact was not clean.

Congleton continued to press, and Fletcher was twice thwarted by the home team’s custodian.

However he could do nothing to prevent Adegbenro scoring from the spot after Lee Jackson had been penalised for handball.

Heaton stuck next to restore parity, jabbing in Cavanagh’s centre after a corner was cleared towards the substitute.

Sam Hind almost claimed a decisive third goal for 1874 when his header crept wide of the target.

1874 | Hall (GK), Lever (Whitlock 63), Lee Jackson, Jack Pritchard, Meadowcroft, Parker, Beadle (Connor 46), Matthew Woolley, McGowan (Riley 59), Hind, Kennerley Subs not used Waite-Jackson, Woods Goals McGowan 13 (penalty), 39

Congleton | Jones (GK), Farnworth, Stevens, Heaton, O’Reilly, Chappell (Ford 70), Hibbert (Cavanagh 70), Foster, Carey (Adegbenro 57), Fletcher, Peters Subs not used Johnson, Brian Pritchard Goals Adegbenro 73 (penalty), Heaton 85 Booked Hibbert, Peters

Referee Dale Baines

Attendance 240