Warrington Town 1 Halesowen Town 1

TOWN are still not assured of a home play-off tie after dropping points at home to lowly Halesowen Town.

Jamie McDonald put Yellows ahead just before the hour mark before Roland Agbor equalised for the visitors to ensure a frustrating afternoon.

They are four points clear of third-placed Grantham, whom they visit on Tuesday, and five clear of Ashton in fourth.

A draw on Tuesday would secure a home play-off semi-final, but victory would assure them off finishing in their current position of second.

Yellows dominated a scoreless first half, but could not break through a stubborn rearguard from the visitors, who sat second from bottom of the table but were mathematically safe from relegation.

Yeltz stopper Daniel Platt was almost deceived by a bobbling Gerard Kinsella effort, but he recovered to tip the ball round the post.

Platt was an absolute spectator moments later, however, when Sean Williams came agonisingly close to adding another special goal to his collection.

His first-time volley from fully 30 yards sailed over the keeper but crashed off the crossbar.

That set the tone for a first half in which Town almost completely monopolised possession, but Halesowen were happy for Paul Carden’s side to play in front of them as long-range efforts from Kinsella, Williams and Will Hayhurst were the only shots of note.

That was until just before the break, when Hayhurst’s scuffed free kick fell into the path of Jack Higgins, but the big centre-half could only hook a shot over the bar from inside the six-yard box.

Town continued to dominate after the break, with McDonald and Kinsella both having efforts on target that did not unduly trouble Platt.

The breakthrough finally came when Mekhi Leacock-McLeod latched onto a superb long kick from keeper Luke Pilling.

A defender stabbed the ball away from the tricky winger, but the ball went straight to McDonald for a tap-in.

Going behind did not initially change Halesowen’s intentions, but Ahmed Ali came very close to an equaliser when he got in behind but Pilling got enough on his shot to send it wide.

If that was a warning, it was one the hosts did not heed.

Minutes after Ali’s chance, Jack Kelly swung a cross over from the left and substitute Agbor stole in between Higgins and Liam Goulding to stab beyond Pilling.

Yellows, for the first time all afternoon, were rattled and veteran striker Lee Hughes almost exploited that but his shot after getting in behind was deflected over by Goulding.

The hosts huffed and puffed to regain their lead, but the closest they came was when Higgins headed into the ground and over the bar from Steve Jennings’ corner.

Warrington Town: Pilling, Beeley, McKeown, Jennings, Higgins, Goulding, Leacock-McLeod (Davis), Williams (Piggott), McDonald, Kinsella, Hayhurst (Bakare). Subs not used: McEveley, Barnes.