Moors paid the price for conceding another late goal as Needham Market scored deep into stoppage time to claim a share of the points at Bloomfields.
Graeme Lee’s men looked all set for three points when Junior Mondal scored for the second game in succession with time running out in Suffolk.
However, the home side – determined to hit back after a 7-1 defeat at Buxton last time out – broke Moors hearts right at the death when Seth Chambers fired home a leveller.
A gritty encounter at Bloomfields saw Moors in control for the most part, but it took them a long time to turn their dominance into an advantage.
Mondal was the first to threaten when he wriggled into space on the edge of the area before dragging a shot wide, before he then drew an excellent save from keeper Marcus Garnham with a powerful drive from 25 yards.
Rob Ramshaw came even closer on 18 minutes when he got on the end of a Matty Dolan corner but planted his header off the crossbar, before the hosts carved out their first chance of the afternoon when Jamie McGrath headed Kyle Hammond’s free-kick wide.
Luke Ingram – making his 500th appearance for the hosts – almost marked the milestone with a goal when he got space on the right of the area to prod a shot on goal, but Brad James got down sharply to help it round the post.
Ramshaw then found space on the edge of the area to send a low effort on goal which was tipped round the post by Garnham, before Ingram threatened again at the other end but this time shot wide.
A flurry of chances at the start of the second half saw Needham Market twice come close to opening the scoring, while Isaac Fletcher could have netted for Moors, but his shot was held by the keeper.
A great break from Moors gave Corey McKeown the chance to burrow inside from the left to feed Ramshaw, but the skipper was forced wide and then smashed his shot into the side-netting.
Fletcher then got another sight of goal following Ramshaw’s flick-on; the midfielder took a touch to steady himself and then shaped a shot towards the far corner only for Garnham to get across to save well again.
James had to stay alert at the other end of the pitch though, and he went down to his left to make another smart save when Ben Hunter tried his luck from 25 yards.
The breakthrough arrived on 77 minutes. Ramshaw slipped a ball through the centre of the home side’s defence, allowing Mondal to go clear and he kept his composure to round the keeper and convert for 1-0.
Olly Dyson and Fletcher both had great opportunities to have clinched the points in the closing stages – but it was the home side who had the final saw when some scruffy defending from Moors allowed Chambers to escape through on goal to level with the last kick.
Full Time: Needham Market 1 Moors 1
Moors: James, Dyson, Ledger, McGinley, Staunton, Dolan, Ross, McKeown, Fletcher, Mondal (Hooper 81), Ramshaw.
Subs not used: Johnson, Myers, Beals, Taylor.
Booked: Fletcher (88)
Needham Market: Marnham, Hammond (Fraser 80), Dye, Morphew, Smith, Lambe (Williams 86), Hunter, Allen, McGrath (Mills 74), Lay (Chambers 59), Ingram.
Subs not used: Cullum.
Booked: Lay (49)
Referee: Lee Hible
