MARK Beesley credited his Warrington Town players for keeping the faith after goalkeeper Dan Atherton scored again to rescue a 2-2 draw against Alfreton Town.

Having previously scored an injury-time leveller against Farsley Celtic, Atherton repeated the trick by nodding home six minutes into time added on to spark wild scenes of celebration at Cantilever Park.

It completed an unlikely fightback for Town, for recovered from 2-0 down by striking twice in the closing stages, with Andre Wisdom’s solo effort setting up the big finish.

Warrington Guardian: Dan Atherton sparks wild celebrations with his leveller against Alfreton TownDan Atherton sparks wild celebrations with his leveller against Alfreton Town (Image: Sean Walsh)

Beesley was perhaps less surprised by Atherton’s unprecedented rescue act but hailed the character his men showed to rescue a point.

“What Dan does do is attack the ball in his own box so when he does go up, he does the same,” the Town boss said.

“It was a great delivery, he’s attacked it and I’m made up he scored.

“We’ve got to give full credit to the players. They’ve battled back and showed that ‘never-say-die’ attitude that’s been synonymous with us over the past few years.

“We pushed and pushed and probably deservedly just nicked a point.

“We had to keep going and believing. Andre scores a great goal and it gives everybody a lift – the crowd were up and we were believing.

“They had a good shape about them and it was hard to break them down, we had a couple of decisions go against us again but we’ve kept going to nick a point.

“We had to keep doing the right things, moving the ball and hope spaces open up.

“We generally controlled the game – the second goal has killed us a bit but it’s a blatant foul, everyone can see it apart from the referee.

“They didn’t let their heads drop, we didn’t create a lot but credit to them as they kept their shape well.

“The supporters gave us a great lift and it’s a good point for us.”

Alfreton, who arrived with a 100 per cent record since the turn of the year, took advantage of a slow start from Town as Liam Waldock put them ahead with a sixth-minute penalty after Lewis Salmon had been brought down.

The Reds then added a second on the counter-attack through Billy Fewster and looked comfortable before Town’s unlikely fightback.

“We were disappointed with the start but I don’t think it’s a penalty,” Beesley said.

“The lad has knocked it away and gone down easily – sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t.

“We’ve had a great chance to equalise after that but then we start to control the game, but our start to the game has to be better.”