OWEN Dale’s stunning free-kick (pictured by Tyler Crouchman) with time running out earned for Witton Albion a deserved share of the spoils from their visit to promotion-hopefuls Shaw Lane.

The teenager, on loan from Crewe Alexandra, fired direct into the far corner out of the reach of goalkeeper Jon Stewart to cancel out Paul Clayton’s opener for the Ducks.

It helped Carl Macauley’s men bring to an end an eight-match winning run on home turf for last season’s Northern Premier League Division One South champions.

In fact, only Mickleover had left Barnsley with any points previously this term.

The visitors went closest to opening the scoring before the break when Dale’s speculative drive from distance was diverted onto the crossbar by Stewart with his fingertips after he stretched fully.

Shaw Lane were left cursing their luck on 71 minutes though when Godwin Abadaki blazed over from inside the six-yard box after Albion custodian Calvin Hare parried Clayton’s header.

The Ducks did break through with nine minutes left when Clayton made no mistake from close-range after Alex Byrne’s free-kick deflected off a defender into his path.

Witton, who had lost captain Anthony Gardner to an ankle injury shortly after the interval, rallied though to level when wide-man Dale scored his first goal for the club. His free-kick, awarded for a handball against Godwin Abadaki, punished the Shaw Lane No. 8 even more as he had been also guilty when he skied over when faced with an open goal in the 77th minute.

Shaw Lane: Stewart (GK), Pollard, Gordon, Kelvin Lugsden, Qualter, Harris, Byrne, Abadaki, Clayton, Chilaka (Whitehouse 63), Walker (Kieran Lugsden 86). Subs not used: Reeves, Rothery, Orlando-Young. Goal: Clayton 81. Booked: Clayton

Witton: Hare (GK), Gardner (Haywood 52), McKenna (Devine 83), Ryan, Wilson, Foley, Dale, Owens, Hopley, Tames (Evans 90) & Jones. Sub not used: Neild (GK). Goal: Dale 89

Referee Neil Guest Attendance 184