DAN Turner’s second-half goal was cancelled out late on as Leamington were held to a 1-1 draw away at Buxton in midweek.
The Brakes took the lead on 65 minutes when Turner finished into an empty net only for Mace Goodridge to equalise seven minutes from time at the Tarmac Silverlands Stadium.
And the result means Leamington sit sixth in the National League North table and remain unbeaten after three matches.
Leamington created the first chance of the match when Jack Edwards and Turner combined well with the latter shooting narrowly wide of the far post after being played in behind the Buxton defence.
And after Buxton were wayward with several shots on goal, Turner came close to breaking the deadlock with a diving header from debutant Louis Hall’s cross.
The striker spurned a third chance to give the visitors the lead when he was sent clear by Hall’s fine through ball only to be denied by a superb save from Theo Richardson.
Paul Holleran’s side picked up where they left off after the break as Turner was again thwarted by Richardson with Devon Kelly-Evans unable to scramble the follow up into the net.
More chances came and went as Jack Lane saw a powerful first time effort saved before Kelly-Evans miscued a header over the bar.
Buxton’s first real opening of the match fell to substitute Jason Gilchrist who headed straight at Callum Hawkins in the Leamington goal from Harry Bunn’s cross.
And Leamington were in front soon after when Turner pounced on a loose ball before rounding Richardson and firing into the open goal from a tight angle.
Buxton upped the tempo after falling behind as a header flashed just wide of the far post before Bunn’s curling effort was well-saved by Hawkins.
The home side made their pressure count on 83 minutes as Goodridge blasted an unstoppable effort through a crowd of bodies and into the corner of the goal past a helpless Hawkins.
And Hawkins made a crucial save late on to preserve a point as he made a fantastic stop to prevent a cross from the right from going in at the far post.
Holleran said: “It was a good first visit to Buxton. They have a cracking set up and there was a good atmosphere tonight. They’ve recruited a good manager and have some good players, and I’m sure they will want to maintain the momentum they have built up from last season.
“We spoke about our away form last season, and the amount of points we got was nowhere near enough. We had to really dig deep and be gutsy on Saturday but today on a really good wet surface we played some really good football.
“We mixed it up, caused no end of problems and created lots of chances. I think there will be a couple of players in the dressing room disappointed that they haven’t got on the scoresheet. The goal we did score came from a mistake.
“Buxton have got good players on the bench – the manager has changed his system and personnel. They were always going to have a spell, and it came at the end. It was a really good strike, a good goal.
“We’ll look back and be disappointed with the golden opportunities we’ve had tonight, but I’m so delighted with the performance away from home on a Tuesday night. I’d have loved the three points but I’m delighted with the performance.”
Leamington are next in action at home to Spennymoor Town on Saturday, August 20 with kick-off at 3pm at the Your Co-Op Community Stadium.
