JOAO Rangel struck a 79th-minute leveller as Leiston picked up a deserved point against one of last season's play-off sides, Halesowen Town, at the Watson & Hillhouse Stadium.

Rangel was on hand to smash past Daniel Platt after good work by captain Seb Dunbar. It levelled the scores up, and the Blues then almost nicked all three points with efforts from Rangel again, Adam Mills and Billy Walsh.

The Blues had earlier taken the lead in the 13th minute when Rangel's cunning run down the right saw Jak Hickman slide the ball into his own net.

But the visitors, buoyed on by a boisterous following, equalised on 41 minutes through McKauley Manning, and then took the lead early in the second period when Charlie Wragg thundered home.

However, in the end both teams had to settle for a draw at a sunshine drenched Victory Road.

Blues boss Chris Wigger gave debuts and first league starts to Kyle Callan-McFadden, Willie Clemons and Rangel while other players signed in pre-season, Ronnie Blois, Jude Frostick and Walsh, were named on the substitutes bench.

The match started well for Leiston, with Mills and Dunbar testing Platt in the away goal, and the first goal came on 13 minutes when Rangel did well down the Blues right to cross into the box and the unfortunate Hickman put into his own net.

Kyle Callan-McFadden then did well to defend against a dangerous ball into the box before, on 29 minutes, Jack Manly forced Platt into a low save after good work by Mills on the left.

It was proving an entertaining game and Leiston were having the edge in the first 30 minutes. However, parity was restored on 41 minutes.

Halesowen won the ball on Leiston’s left flank and a cross into the box was headed across goal for Manning to poke the ball home.

The visitors began the second half well. Kyle Finn’s strike was deflected over the crossbar and, on 56 minutes, substitute Wragg shot high into Johnson’s goal to send the visitors into the lead. Johnson was forced to make two fine saves in quick succession from Wragg and Finn before Leiston started to come back into the game.

And the home side grabbed a deserved equaliser on 79 minutes.

Dunbar’s cross from the left found Rangel to smash into Platt’s net for a debut goal and, late on, Rangel's outside of the foot audacious effort nearly won it for the home after a brilliant effort that hit Platt’s right-hand upright, with Mills seeing his effort from the rebound saved.

In the third minute of additional time, Wash broke through, one one one with Platt, but his shot went agonisingly wide, as Blues fans held their breath as the ball trickled towards goal.

FT: Blues 2 Halesowen Town 2

Leiston are in action on Tuesday night when they head to Kettering Town (7.45pm kick off).

Line-ups;

Blues: Johnson, Hill, Dunbar, Callan-McFadden, Jackson, Rangel, Alexander, Jack Manly (Blois 66 mins), Mills, Clemons (Walsh 83 mins), Ryan Jarvis (Frostick 76 mins). Subs not used: Batho and Fowkes.

Halesowen Town: Platt, Hickman, Cassidy (Mitchell 87 mins), Smile (Kellermann 83 mins), Gudger, Parker (Wragg 46 mins), Cowley (Burns 83 mins), Finn, Manning, Butterfield, Willets. Sub not used: Wollacott.

Match Sponsor, Godbold Properties Man Of The Match: Joao Rangel

Attendance: 224