YUSIFU Ceesay struck in the second half to secure injury-hit Harriers a deserved point in a 1-1 draw at Buxton.

Ceesay notched his second of the season - and in as many games - with a second-half finish that cancelled out a Buxton goal seconds after the restart.

That well-earned point does little to tell the full story of the night, with drama unfolding within a minute after Harriers lost Nathaniel Knight-Percival to an ankle injury.

Inside the opening 20 minutes there were also some good chances. Luke Burke fired over or Buxton before Gabby Rogers, making a first start for the club, clipped in a cross that Caleb Richards nodded towards the target - the goalkeeper making a fine save to deny the Reds an opener.

Seven minutes later came the second injury blow of the evening for a Harriers squad already beset by such set-backs; Ethan Freemantle stooped to win the ball and was caught by a rising knee to the eye that caused too much immediate damage to allow the striker to continue.

Just three minutes later  Palmer was forced into his first save of the night as he clutched hold of a James Hardy effort, before Buxton stopper Richardson controlled a Zak Brown header.

The final action of the half saw Joe Foulkes join Knight-Percival and Freemantle on the night's wounded list - he made it to half time but didn't make the restart, which Buxton very much did in taking the lead within 25 seconds, a sweeping, low cross into the area tucked home by Connor Kirby.

Harry Bunn had a superb chance to make it 2-0, curling just wide of Palmer's post, before Burke's angled drive across goal was kept out by a strong save from the feet of Palmer.

Either side of those efforts came two sights of goal for Rogers, before the equaliser came eight after the hour, Hemmings' through ball taken well in his stride by Ceesay who fired home off the post.

There were  half chances and sights of goal for both teams as the game came to its conclusion, with one final key chance for the win coming the way of Hemmings with 89 on the clock. He aimed a free kick from the edge of the area towards the top corner, but Richardson met it well to keep out the danger.