Rushall 1 Clitheroe 1
Rushall's FA Trophy hopes were kept alive by keeper Tony Breeden as they settled for a replay against Clitheroe – forcing their ninth successive cup game.
Pics had the best start to the second qualifying round tie, scoring the softest of goals in the 11th minute.
Neil Barnfield got the faintest of touches as he fell trying to connect with a left-wing cross and 'keeper James Mann missed the ball, allowing it to loop over him into the net from close range.
As the home side continued to press, skipper Richard Brown headed wide from a corner.
Rushall remained on top and Sean Dowdall sent an angled flick wide after surging into the box.
Dowdall was denied again when a defender blocked his shot on the line after being set up by Rob Holdcroft.
That was to be the striker's last noteworthy action as he was forced off with a shoulder injury seven minutes before the break.
Dowdall's departure proved to be the cue for Clitheroe to come into the game and Breeden pulled off a fine save to deny Ryan Fisher's vicious 25 yarder.
Only another superb stop from Breeden kept out a low drive after the home defence went missing.
As Clitheroe remained on top, Breeden was again called into action when he tipped away a long range effort.
It was no surprise when the dominant Lancashire outfit levelled through Gary Stopforth in the 62nd minute with a shot from the edge of the box after they forced a second successive corner.
Rushall continued to struggle and they had Brown to thank to stop Clitheroe taking the lead, his block from substitute Sam Heap proving crucial, before an offside flag denied the visitors a simple tap-in after they struck the post.
Overworked Breeden then denied Heap with his feet as the Blues continued to pile forward.
Despite Clitheroe's dominance, Rushall missed the chance to win it themselves in injury-time when right-back Lee Gough fired wide from 25 yards in a rare foray forward.
Rushall now face a long trip up the M6 to Lancashire tomorrow night to settle the tie.
Rushall: Breeden, Gough, Beale, Brown, Barrow, Preston, Beckett (Rowe 85), Holdcroft, Szewczyk (Brindley 80), Dowdall (Charie 38), Barnfield.
Subs not used: Johnson, Hawker.
Referee: R Smith (Halesowen).
