Sunderland Ladies came from a goal down to ensure a point away to Birmingham City Ladies, but should have taken all three points in truth.
Birmingham started well, despite Sunderland having four chances in as many minutes around the midway point of the half, and could have gone in at the break with more than a one goal lead, Freda Ayisi the scorer for the hosts five minutes before half time.
The Lady Black Cats fought back though and were level within nine minutes of the restart, Abbey Joice on hand to equalise with a strike at the back post.
The visitors took control of the game in the second 45 minutes, with Beth Mead having a great chance to put them in the lead, amongst others, but the FA WSL 1's top goal-scorer couldn't do so, whilst Birmingham themselves nearly dealt out the ultimate punishment for a lack of clinical finishing by stealing the points at the end with two late opportunities, only to fall victim to this themselves as well.
Blues start bright before taking a lead in at the break
Birmingham started well on a damp Sunday afternoon in the Midlands, with Melissa Lawley striking wide with less than two minutes on the clock, whilst the Sunderland defence were kept on their toes to clear a number of dangerous attacks early on.
Yet, the visitors grew into the game and came close on several occasions in quick succession as the 20 minute mark neared. Becky Spencer was called into action for the first time in the home goal on 16 minutes, Rachel Furness hitting the target powerfully from 20 yards, whilst the midfielder would be denied from the resulting corner too, the 'keeper tipping her header over the bar.
From the set piece that followed, Furness had an effort blocked on the line by Jessica Carter, whilst Victoria Greenwell's free-kick two minutes later was only off target by a matter of inches.
However, it was Birmingham who assumed the dominant role again after these fruitful few minutes for Sunderland, with Karen Carney putting in some dangerous set pieces, albeit unable to see a teammate connect with one of them.
It was the England international who created the opening goal of the game though, driving down the wing and cutting inside before picking out Ayisi, who clinically converted to give the Blues the lead five minutes before the break.
Black Cats produce perfect second half response to level quickly
Despite taking the lead at a perfect time, to give the team confidence at the interval and coming out after it, the hosts were unable to maintain it for long.
Sunderland were instead the quicker out of the blocks this time, with Keira Ramshaw firing over the bar five minutes after the restart as the visitors really began to take control as they searched for an equaliser.
They didn't have to wait long for one either, with Joice on target after 54 minutes, converting Brooke Chaplen's low cross after Spencer came out to claim but failed to do so.
The Lady Black Cats looked capable of going on to take all three points from here, with them remaining on top as Victoria Williams look to convert Greenwell's free-kick, only for the 'keeper to collect the effort with ease.
Either side could have won it at the end, but lacked composure in final third
The final 20 minutes really saw Sunderland step up their efforts too, Abby Holmes hitting the target from 30 yards before Mead put a shot just wide after being threaded through one-on-one with Birmingham's stopper.
The striker would be thwarted by Spencer when she found the target less than a minute later, whilst Holmes too forced a good save out of the 24-year-old in the box moments after.
Despite all the pressure applied by Sunderland, however, Birmingham could have stole the points right at the death when Lawley broke into the area, against the run of play, and fired goalwards, only to see her effort curl just wide of the mark, whilst Rachael Laws was forced into her first real action of the game in stoppage time by Carney, denying the opposing captain as she bent the ball on target from an angle.
In the end though, the two could not be separated in a hard-fought draw, one Sunderland will certainly be disappointed with given the amount of chances they saw, not to mention the quality of them.
Title looks tricky for Sunderland now
The Lady Black Cats now head into their final three league games of the season with their title challenge weakening after back-to-back draws, the other coming at home to strugglers Liverpool two weeks ago.
They could have gone top with victory today, by three points, but now they could be three points behind leaders Chelsea if they beat Arsenal this evening, whilst Manchester City, in fourth, also have a game in hand over Sunderland and could go a point ahead of them if they win.
Fortunately for Carlton Fairweather's side though, City drew 2-2 with Notts County earlier today, which keeps them in the race a little more than if the Manchester club had emerged victorious.