YORK City foundation coach Tom Allan’s community spirit clearly doesn’t extend to the pitch at Bootham Crescent.

Allan, whose day job sees him work with schools on behalf of the Minstermen, delivered a defensive lesson for the hosts’ players when he leapt unmarked to earn part-timers Alfreton a 1-1 draw.

His header cancelled out Simon Heslop’s early opener for City and represented a seventh goal of the season for the 23-year-old defender, who did not net in 11 appearances for his home-town club – the last of which came in the League Two play-off semi-final second leg at Fleetwood in 2014.

Allan was assisted on this occasion by Hamza Bencherif’s failure to check his run as Cieron Keane’s long free kick was lofted into the home box, meaning the Minstermen tossed away another two points due to ill-disciplined defending.

Other than the goal, two intended Keane crosses, gathered safely by City keeper Adam Bartlett at his near post, represented the visitors’ only other on-target efforts.

But, there were also other nervous moments for the hosts’ back-line, with Allan going close following another free header and indecisive play by Jonny Burn going unpunished as Bartlett snuffed out two one-on-one chances.

City were a little insipid in their attacking play too without the suspended Jon Parkin despite getting off to a flying start.

After David Ferguson flashed a 25-yard effort over the visitors’ bar, Alex Pattison won the free kick that would lead to Heslop netting on five minutes.

The set-piece was quickly taken by Aidan Connolly, with Alfreton caught napping as Heslop charged on to the ball through the right channel.

He then fired low across the face of goal into on-loan Aston Villa keeper Viktor Johansson’s bottom corner.

The game meandered thereafter, however, with Nyal Bell well off target following an optimistic overhead kick and Allan also rattling the roof of the David Longhurst Stand from 25 yards.

For City, Connolly miskicked a 15-yard volley wide and a sidefoooted edge-of-the-box Heslop effort lacked the venom to trouble Johannson.

Martin Gray’s team then survived a scare when a badly-positioned Burn failed to cut out James Baxendale’s through ball and was brushed aside by Bell, but the on-loan Gateshead forward never looked confident as he bore down on Bartlett’s goal and allowed the City keeper to nick the ball off his toes.

The warning went unheeded, though, with another lapse seeing Allan head past Bartlett from six yards on 38 minutes.

In response, Alex Kemspter headed well wide from a deep Sean Newton cross on the stroke of half-time.

After the restart, Allan missed the target by a matter of inches after directing a Brendon Daniels’ left-wing free kick back across goal.

At the other end, Bencherif was wayward after meeting a centre from Pattison, who cleared the crossbar from 20 yards following a dipping left-footed attempt moments later.

Newton also shot too high with a diagonal effort, before subs Louis Almond and Connor Smith both provided some much-needed spark to City’s forward play.

Almost immediately, Almond played a ball into the box that was helped on by Kempster with Connolly driving on target from 12 yards, only for Johnasson to save with his legs.

After a Heslop effort had been safely gathered, Smith also drilled a low shot narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

But there was more home anxiety on 83 minutes when Burn’s blushes were spared following an under-hit back pass, as an alert Bartlett charged to the edge of his penalty area to meet Keane.

Almond threatened a moment of inspiration to win the game on 88 minutes, when he excellently controlled a Bartlett free kick, flicked into the box by Bencherif’s head, to create a shooting chance that he then lifted into Johnasson’s arms.

Another Almond strike was deflected away from Johansson’s goal, meanwhile, leaving City with just one victory – against title hopefuls Salford – from their last six contests.

City ratings

Adam Bartlett 6

Connor Brown 5

Hamza Bencherif 5

Jonny Burn 5

David Ferguson 6

Simon Heslop 6

Sean Newton 5

Alex Pattison 6

Aidan Connolly 6

Adriano Moke 5

Alex Kemspter 6

Substitutes: Louis Almond 6 (for Moke, 69), Connor Smith 6 (for Pattison, 69).

Subs not used: Dan Parslow, Luke Simpson, Raul Correia.

Star man: Heslop – took his goal well and protected possession in anchor role

Alfreton: Viktor Johansson, Bradley Wood, Luke Shiels, Edward Wagner, Tom Allan, Marcus Marshall (Ryan Jennings, 87), Craig Disley (Tom Platt, 77), James Baxendale, Cieron Keane, Brendon Daniels (Craig Westcarr, 84), Nyal Bell.

Subs not used: Chris Sharp, Sam Topliss.

Alfreton star man: Allan – strong in the air and sensible on the floor

Referee: Thomas Kirk rating: 7/10 – decisive and authoritative

Booked: Wagner 33, Bell 44, Keane 57, Newton 70, Daniels 71

Sent off: None

Attendance: 2,397 (127 from Alfreton)

Shots on target: City 5, Alfreton 3

Shots off target: City 8, Alfreton 3

Corners: City 8, Alfreton 3

Fouls conceded: City 10, Alfreton 13

Offside: City 1, Alfreton 3