Two-goal Powell keeps his cool as Poppies claim a precious point at Alfreton

Powell kept his cool from the spot in the 83rd minute to score and secure a precious point for the Poppies, who remain two points and two places above second-from-bottom Alfreton.

A win for the hosts could have seen Paul Cox's men drop into the bottom two, but instead they still have a small cushion as well as games in hand on all of the teams around them, aside from Darlington.

The match started badly for the Poppies as they fell behind on six minutes, Jake Day firing home from close range.

The Poppies responded well, and although Powell had an effort ruled out for offside, they were level 10 minutes before the break when Ryan Fryatt diverted a Ben Milnes shot into the net.

Having gone into the break all square, the Poppies were rocked a minute into the second half when Alfreton went 2-1 up, Dan Bradley the scorer.

That lead lasted just six minutes though, with Powell firing in the equaliser to make it 2-2 on 52 minutes, his left foot shot going in off the post.

Both teams then cancelled each other out until seven minutes from time when Alfreton once again took the lead, their star man Elliott Reeves firing home.

The home side must have thought they had won it this time, but no.

With 86 minutes on the clock, Powell raced into the penalty area and was fouled, before he dusted himself down to clamly slot home from the spot and make it 3-3.

There were further chances for both sides in the closing minutes, but they weren't taken and the points were shared.

The Poppies are due to be back in action on Saturday when they make the short trip across the county to take on Brackley Town, the pair's scheduled meeting at Latimer Park on Boxing Day having been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Brackley will go into that game on the back of a dramatic 3-2 win over league leaders Gloucester City at St James Park on Monday, Shane Byrne netting the winner two minutes from time.