Rotherham United Reserves came from behind to record a 1-1 draw against Port Vale in a Central League top of the table battle at Vale Park.
The home side took a first-half lead through Christian Montano but Joshua Kayode superbly levelled for the Millers in the second-half for a share of the spoils.
With both sides still chasing the possibility of a Central League title, this was likely to be a crucial fixture in the race for the Championship.
The Millers sat top at the start of play, but just a point clear of Vale in third, with the Burslem-based club also having a game in hand.
The match was also significant as Darren Potter made his long awaited comeback following serious injury which has kept him out of first-team action for the duration of the 2018/19 season to date.
Potter lined up alongside Matt Palmer in central midfield on a sunny day in the Potteries, whilst there was also a start for Ryan Williams who missed Saturday’s defeat to Norwich following the birth of his son.
The Millers also included two trialists, a ‘keeper and a winger, as boss Paul Warne took the opportunity to have a look at options for next season.
The hosts were forced into an early change when veteran Danny Pugh came off following an awkward fall, with Joe Berks replacing him.
It was the Millers who had the first attempt when the busy Williams raided down the right before standing up a teasing cross to the back post, but a flicked header clear just denied the onrushing Jake Hull.
The first attempt on target soon followed with trialist in goal for the Millers making a sharp save to his left following a well-timed shot from Ben Whitfield.
Vale were looking the more likely and after Kyle Howkins had glanced a header wide from a corner, they then missed a great chance when Toby Edser fired over when stretching from eight yards out.
The Millers then had their best chance of the half when Jerry Yates chased a flick from a long ball. It looked as though the lively front-man was in on goal but has he took aim, Howkins got back to make a terrific last ditch block.
The hosts then quickly took the lead after good build up play from Theo Vassell which saw the winger glide past Luke Hodgkinson before playing in Montano for an easy finish from close range.
Potter came through his first competitive action of the season, but at the break he was replaced by youngster Wilf Peel-Evans.
The opening 15 minutes of the second period provided little in terms of goalmouth action, but Matt Hamshaw reshuffled his defence as Alex Johnson replaced Jake Hull, with Akeem Hinds moving to centre-half.
The Millers enjoyed a couple of half-chances, firstly when Palmer’s free-kick to the back post was glanced wide by trialist, and shortly after Jake Southern-Cooper planted a header just wide.
The visitors were starting to look the stronger side and after Palmer’s daisy cutter flew past the post, the Millers were then rewarded with an equaliser.
Kayode picked up the ball midway through the Vale half before driving towards the edge of the area. The striker then unleashed a powerful strike from 20 yards which beat Sam Hornby in the Vale goal.
Vale almost retook the lead with seven minutes remaining after a purposeful break from Gibbons but Trialist made a great low save to his right.
Late on Kayode almost won it for the Millers but he failed to get a telling connection to Jacob Gratton’s left-wing cross.
Full time
Port Vale Reserves 1 v 1 Rotherham United Reserves
Port Vale: Hornby; Gibbons, Campbell, Kay (Elliott 56), Montano (Turner 56); Rawlinson, Vassell, Pugh (Berks 7), Howkins; Whitfield (Ede 71), Edser.
Subs not used: Blight.
Rotherham: Trialist; Hodgkinson, Southern-Cooper, Hull (Johnson 59), Hinds; Williams, Potter (Peel-Evans HT), Palmer, Trialist (Gratton 71); Yates, Kayode.
Subs not used: Carlton, Lewthwaite.