WINLESS Harriers went within seconds of their first win of the season at Altrincham before a 94th free-kick saw them held to a 2-2 draw.

Hockaday made sweeping changes across the squad for what was his first away game in charge of Harriers.

There was a first start for striker Callum Hassan just days after his debut for the club, while new signings, Bournemouth's Ben Whitfield and West Bromwich Albion's Joe Ward, were both handed starts in the middle of the park to make competitive career debuts.

Lathaniel Rowe-Turner was drafted in to the 11 at full-back to replace Kevin Toner who, after an impressive run in the side, was forced off against Macclesfield with an injury that is likely to side-line him for a number of weeks.

It was a busy start on a fairly chilly night and, inside a couple of minutes, there was a half chance at either end as James Lawrie warmed the palms of Dean Snedker and, for Harriers, debutant Whitfield volleyed over from a Francis-Angol cross.

The young Cherries man was an early spark for Harriers and he again got forward before forcing the goalkeeper into the a save just after the quarter-hour mark; but familiar mistakes would haunt Harriers again soon after.

Seconds after Snedker had palmed wide an Josh O'Keefe cross, the resultant corner - just as it did at Macclesfield - brought a goal; Lawrie's delivery sailing straight in at the near-post with a possible aid from Snedker.

The goal seemed to spark Harriers in to life. Up to that point, their neat attacking play showed no true end product but they found it in some style - edging level on 38 minutes as powerhouse Hassan smashed in from close range after being teed up by Jared Hodgkiss.

Hassan almost made it 2-1 moments later as he sensed blood and Harriers really turned the screw, though after breaking through on goal he could only find the side netting.

The second half was equal to the first in that it carried an early chance for both sides, Rowe-Turner shooting at the goalkeeper from close range before O'Keefe struck another neat effort over the target for the hosts.

The theme continued as Snedker saved from Sinnott before Deasy did so from Maxwell as we past the hour mark, before Harriers got a reward for their relentless work-rate and pressing when they stole ahead with less than a quarter of an hour remaining.

The goal was opportunistic in its making and taking and that summed up the approach for the night - Whitfield excellently dispossessing home skipper Havern before lashing the ball beyond Deasy to make it 2-1.

From there, the reds looked like they'd finally see it home, but a dagger at the death came as Rankine swept a fine free-kick strike beyond the dive of Snedker and in to the bottom corner.

Harriers: Snedker, Hodgkiss, Tunnicliffe, Langmead, Rowe-Turner, Maxwell, Ward, Whitfield (Clarke 90), Murphy (Green 53), Hassan, Francis-Angol (Styche 76).

Subs not used: Palmer, Dinsley.

Altrincham: Deasy, Moult, Havern, Leather, Lawrie, Rankine, Reeves, Clee, O'Keefe (Heathcote 86), Bowerman, Sinnott.

Subs not used: Swift, Williams, Davis, Stouppis Attendance: 869 Referee: Tom Neild