STRIKER Alan Nagington, making his first start since Boxing Day, appeared to have grabbed a late Easter Monday winner for Stafford Rangers when he pounced with four minutes to go.
But visiting Nantwich Town denied him and the Marstoin Road men a much needed first win in four with a stunning equaliser in the final minute of normal time.
Both sides struggled to muster any worthwhile chances in the opening half hour, a period unfortunately remembered for the red card for winger Peter Heler, that left Rangers with only ten men for 65 minutes.
Heler lost control of the ball when attacking the Nantwich goal and slid in with studs showing on Nantwich's Casper Hughes.
An inswinging free kick from defender Ryan Brown forced Nantwich keeper Jon Brain into punching the ball clear at the near post on 40 minutes.
Karl Espley then hooked the ball off his own goal line to keep out a rebound off Simon Everall as home keeper Adam Alcock attempted to boot clear.
Nantwich defender Darren Moss was unfortunate to remain on the pitch on 56 minutes - he had been booked a minute into the second period - when, as last man, he appeared to bring down Nagington, but the referee surprisingly waved play on, despite a linesman's flag indicating an infringement.
But Moss was dismissed just three minutes later for a heavy tackle on Michael Carr and with numbers now even it was Rangers who finally broke the deadlock.
Just four minutes remained when substitute Sean Kinsella picked out Nagington with a delightful through ball and striker held off his marker to beat Brain with a well struck low drive.
However, with a minute to go, Rangers were hit by a memorable strike from Nantwich's Shaun Cooke, who let fly from the angle of the area and beat Alcock with an excellent drive from 25 yards.
It was a ninth home draw for Rangers, who visit Buxton on Wednesday (7.45pm) in a re-arranged league game, before receiving the same opponents at Marston Road for the final home fixture of the season.
