However, the visitors levelled with ten minutes remaining through the prolific Matty Walker and Heys had to dig deep to secure the point as they then saw Oliver Hatfield-Banton dismissed in the 86th minute for a second bookable offence.

A draw was the least Matt Barnes side deserved. Indeed, for the opening seventy minutes they were the better side before tired legs began to kick in.

The Yorkshire visitors arrived as the form team in the division, occupying the fourth promotion position which Heys are pursuing.

Starting seven points behind, with a game in hand, it was a match the hosts could not afford to lose, and they made a fast-paced start.

Jamie Hill saw a shot on the turn parried by Shelley ‘keeper Paul Day who then reacted quickly to block Frangillo on the follow up. From the ensuing corner Heys penned their opponents in their own box as three separate shots were blocked.

Shelley did ease the pressure and Craig Billington glanced a header wide before they took the lead in the 12th minute. Breaking from defence the ball was worked to Alex O’Keefe who went on a brilliant run down the left before cutting inside and rifling a ferocious shot into the far corner of the net.

Heys responded positively and they levelled seven minutes later as Will Shawcross broke into the box before driving low and seeing a deflection take the ball into the net.

Thereafter, Heys took charge of proceedings. Hill saw a cross deflected wide before Hatfield-Banton saw a header held at full stretch by Day.

However, home hopes were hit when Frangillo was given a straight red card for pushing a Shelley player to the ground with the referee disappointingly not taking into account that the opposition player, who acted like he had been shot, had his arm wrapped round the Heys strikers neck.

Nonetheless, Heys continued to set the pace. Debutant James Dwyer saw a shot deflected wide before Shawcross broke into the box before firing just wide.

Heys continued to set the pace after the interval. Brad Sixsmith fired just over after some slick football before Hill stung the keeper’s hands with a shot from the edge of the area.

Shelley were hanging on and they too were reduced to ten men on the hour when Pownall was sin binned.

Four minutes later, Heys pressure told as they took the lead. Hill went on mazy dribble into the box before shooting low through a crowded goalmouth and seeing his effort take a deflection into the bottom corner.

Heys herculean efforts, on a heavy pitch were beginning to take their toll though and with the visitors committed to saving the game they began to find themselves being pushed back for arguably the first time in the afternoon.

Anthony Leech flashed a near post header across goal before Heys stopper Russell Saunders saved at the near post from Waller.

However, in the 80th minute Waller did find the net. Breaking down the left he cut inside before delivering a cross come shot that twisted in the air and under the bar to level matters.

A weary looking Heys were now having to dig deep to keep the visitors at bay and Billington went mightily close with a header

The battle became even harder when Hatfield-Banton was dismissed but Heys held firm to secure a point.

TEAM: Russell Saunders, Oliver Hatfield-Banton, Daniel Vinten, James Dwyer, Adrian Bellamy, Jacob Holt (Capt), Will Shawcross, Joe Rothwell, Francesco Frangillo, Bard Sixsmith, Jamie Hill Subs: Dominik Williams, Greg Wills (for Shawcross 78 mins), Sean Cookson, Cory Knight (for Dwyer 60), Jamie Sinnott (for Rothwell 85 mins).