A LATE Matthew Tipton goal earned a crucial point for the Shakers against bottom of the table Rushden & Diamonds and cheered up boss Chris Casper.

In horrendous wet and windy weather and on a gluepot of a pitch that was like a paddy field in places, a point apiece was just about the right result although for five worrying minutes it looked like the visitors might be about to return to Northamptonshire with all three.

They took the lead eight minutes from time thanks to a magnificent 35-yard free-kick by Wayne Hatswell that rocketed into the top corner.

But thankfully, the former Oldham and Macclesfield marksman saved the day three minutes from time, with a cool finish after Dwayne Mattis had flicked on a long ball from John Fitzgerald.

"I'm not saying it feels like a win by any stretch of the imagination but it could have been an awful lot worse," admitted Casper.

"It was more important to us that we didn't lose the game because they will have wanted to win it.

"We still have a four point gap on them and those two matches in hand.

"I thought we were back to our determined best and played some decent stuff on a difficult surface and hopefully that goal will kick-start Matthew Tipton's season.

"He's getting fitter and stronger and it was good to see him last the full 90 minutes."

"We said we could not lose, no matter what and it was important to break up that run of defeats.

"We've got to make sure we win those games in hand now as there's nothing between us and the top half of the table."