TOM Allan – a York City community coach during the week – earned Alfreton Town a 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent.

The former City defender secured a share of the spoils for part-timers Alfreton with a first-half header after Simon Heslop had given the hosts an early lead.

David Ferguson saw a 25-yard effort flash over, before the Minstermen forged in front on five minutes.

On-loan Middlesbrough midfielder Alex Pattison won the hosts a free kick, which was quickly taken by Aidan Connolly to send Heslop through the right channel.

The former Luton midfielder went to fire across the face of the goal into the bottom corner, with a well-taken shot.

At the other end, Nyal Bell’s speculative overhead kick bounced wide of Adam Bartlett’s near post and Allan struck the roof of the David Longhurst Stand from 25 yards.

Midway through the half, a mishit 15-yard Connolly volley missed the target and Heslop’s sidefooted, edge-of-the-box effort lacked the venom to trouble Alfreton keeper Viktor Johansson.

But Bell should have done better when a badly-positioned Jonny Burn failed to cut out James Baxendale’s ball forward and was brushed aside, gifting the on-loan Gateshead forward a clear run on goal.

He never looked confident, though, as he attempted to round Bartlett and the City keeper grabbed the ball off his toes.

Alfreton did draw level, however, on 38 minutes when Cieron Keane lofted a free kick into the box from close to the halfway line and Allan’s run went untracked before he headed past Bartlett from six yards.

The first half drew to a close after Alex Kempster headed well wide from Sean Newton’s deep left-wing cross.

After the break, Allan almost grabbed a second goal when Brendon Daniels’ left-wing free kick was allowed to travel all the way to the far post, where the 6ft 4in defender headed inches wide across the face of goal.

In response, Hamza Bencherif headed well wide for the Minstermen, Pattison saw a left-footed 20-yard attempt dip over and Newton hit the Longhurst roof with a diagonal drive.

After being hailed from the bench, Louis Almond’s right-wing cross was then helped on by Kemspter for Connolly to drive at goal, but his 12-yard effort was kept out by Johansson’s feet.

A long-range Heslop shot was also safely gathered by the Swedish keeper before Connor Smith – part of a double substitution along with Almond – drove inches wide from just outside the penalty area, Almond went on to show good skill to tee himself up with a chance after Bencherif had headed on Bartlett’s long free kick, but the former Tranmere attacker lifted his shot into Johansson’s arms.

A 90th-minute Almond drive was also deflected away from the visitors’ goal, before proceedings were brought to a close.