HALIFAX showed the spirit that may well see them survive in the Blue Square Premier as they battled back three times to earn what could be a precious point in their survival battle.

The Shayman came to compete in front of a crowd of 1,204 swelled by the "Kids for a Quid" offer, immediately disrupting Grays' fluency in difficult conditions.

The deadlock was broken in the 39th minute when Barry Cogan's cross from the left was cleverly headed back across the area by Danny Kedwell for Jamie Taylor to knock in from close range.

But this was a nervy Grays who looked very uncertain at the back. In injury time Simon Heslop's cross was palmed weakly away and Daryl Taylor confidently hit the right hand corner of the net.

The good work was immediately undone in the second half. Jon Ashton's hopeful punt from defence was pounced on by the resurgent Jamie Taylor, who neatly chipped the ball over the keeper to restore the lead.

But Halifax would not give up. In the 50th minute, Grays panicked once more and Danny Forrest pounced on uncertainty to shoot from close range over the keeper and keep survival hopes alive.

The second half seemed to get bogged down in midfield until late on when once again Cogan again took control. In the 85th minute, he slipped a pass to Adam Gross who fired over a cross. Scott Taylor put a heavy challenge on Darryn Stamp and then fired the ball past the keeper for what looked a certain winner.

But in this eccentric game, Halifax came back. In the 88th minute, TomKearney dribbled in the area and fell weakly after Jamie Stuart's challenge. To his team's surprise the ref pointed to the spot. Craig Mawson put it confidently away to claim a vital point for the exhausted Shaymen.

Other results: Aldershot 1 Burton Albion 0, Altrincham 3 Salisbury 1, Cambridge Utd 1 Stafford Rangers 2, Crawley Town 1 Weymouth 1, Exeter 2 Northwich 1, Forest Green 0 Rushden & Diamonds 1, Kidderminster 1 Histon 1, Oxford Utd 5 Farsley Celtic 1, Stevenage 1 Torquay 3, York 2 Woking 3.