Cambridge United extended their unbeaten run to seven games but were disappointed to be pegged back after leading at neighbours Histon.
Today's new signings goalkeeper Aaron Grundy and striker Lee Phillips were both in the 16-man squad, Grundy on the bench while Phillips partnered Scott Rendell up front, and Courtney Pitt and Robbie Willmott were restored to the side in a 4-4-2 line-up as Daryl McMahon, Chris Holroyd and the injured Mark Beesley - who needs an operation and could miss the rest of the season - made way.
On Phillips, who slotted into the side well considering he only met his new team-mates for the first time today, Gary Brabin said, "He's done well. I originally only planned for him to play for an hour tonight but he's done well and he's gone right to the end so I'm delighted with that."
After a scrappy first half, United took the second period by the scruff of the neck and Wayne Hatswell put the U's ahead with a beautifully flighted 35-yard volley in the 74th minute. But Histon scored their trademark late goal to snatch a share of the points five minutes from time when Matt Langston's header was fumbled by Danny Potter and stabbed into the net by Jack Midson.
"We dominated the game for all but the last ten minutes and I thought we deserved the win," said Brabin. "But like last time they put us under a lot of pressure and that's what they're good at. They've scored a lot of goals in the last ten minutes and you can see why."
He continued, "I feel like I'm saying the same things but I was very disappointed with the referee and I'm absolutely gobsmacked at some of his decisions. He said he just wanted to even things up at half-time so that's what we're dealing with. I'm a bit disappointed at that response but we've just got to roll our sleeves up and be bigger than that that and carry on the way we are."
Asked about Histon's equaliser and the usually reliable Danny Potter's second costly mistake in two games, Brabin said, "I think Pottsy will be disappointed with that. It looked quite comfortable and I don't know whether he tried to palm it over the bar and it hit the bar and came back out, but it's a silly goal.
"But there have been times when Pottsy's saved us so we do mistakes and we have to cut them out. They are getting less and less, which coincides with our good run, and hopefully by the end of the season when we're challenging for things we'll have completely cut them out."
But of the goal that put United ahead, Brabin was full of praise: "It was a great finish from Hats but I could see it coming, especially in the second half because I thought we were piling a bit more pressure on them and I could see a goal coming.
"Once we'd scored the goal, you never feel safe and that's what they're good at - piling the pressure on in the last ten minutes. They just sort of lump everything forward and they get a lot of reward from that."
He added, "We've played Histon three times now this season and we're undefeated, and they're second in the league on merit. So although a few people have criticised their style, full credit to them because it's effective and it's got them where they are today and you have to respect that."
Closing with warm praise for the United supporters, many of whom were locked out when the gates were locked at the away end, the manager said, "They were brilliant, they never stopped for the entire game, and I'm just gutted that we couldn't hold on for that last six or seven minutes."
United are in action again at home to runaway league leaders Burton Albion on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
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