Buxton suffered a setback in their push for the playoffs after being held to a 2-2 draw against Alfreton.
They nearly made the perfect start inside ten seconds when Johnny Johnston broke away with pace, but his effort bobbled wide of the post.
Early on, George Ward picked up possession in the fifth minute, shifted past his man and struck from distance, although his effort failed to hit the target.
Soon after, Alfreton enjoyed a spell of pressure from set pieces, forcing The Bucks to stand firm. The closest they came was from a Kieron Freeman corner that was headed off the line by Kieran Burton.
Buxton responded with a chance of their own as Luke Brennan delivered a cross to the back post, where Johnston met it from close range, only to see his effort blocked behind.
Midway through the half, the first booking arrived when Alfreton captain Adam Lund was cautioned for a foul on Will Trueman. From the resulting free kick, Buxton’s captain Connor Kirby struck a low effort into the wall.
Not long after, Buxton were shown their first yellow card of the afternoon, with Burton booked following an aerial challenge with Lund.
As the half drew to a close, the game burst into life with three goals in the final five minutes.
Alfreton took the lead in the 40th minute when Freeman delivered a dangerous set piece that found Lund, who put his header into the net.
Buxton responded almost immediately, equalising just two minutes later as Johnston fired home from close range following a flick-on by Burton.
However, in added time, Alfreton regained the advantage when another set piece caused problems, with the ball coming off Burton and ending up in the net to make it 2-1 at the break.
After the restart, and with the rain beginning to fall, Buxton looked to respond as they worked the ball into the area, finding Johnston, whose effort towards the far corner drifted wide.
On the hour mark, Buxton drew level once again after being awarded their third penalty in as many games. Kirby was brought down in the box from a free kick, allowing Brennan to step up and calmly slot home to make it 2-2.
Moments later, Buxton appealed for another penalty when Johnston went down in the area under a challenge, but the referee waved away the claims.
Continuing to push forward, Kirby tried his luck from distance, but his dipping effort sailed over the crossbar.
With ten minutes remaining, Cian Coleman flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal, yet no Buxton player was able to apply the finishing touch.
Alfreton then had a golden opportunity to restore their lead when the ball fell to Lewis Salmon inside the box, but Max Bardell produced a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny him.
In the closing stages, the final chance fell to Connor Douglas at the back post, although his effort was blazed high and over, ensuring the points were shared.
