Stanley's final game of the season might not have meant much in terms of position but for Alan Burton it was one of the best days of his life.

The 20-year-old has waited years for his league debut as injury has hampered his chances of progressing from the Stanley youth team to make his first team start.

But the midfielder finally got his chance at the Pirelli Stadium – and he couldn't hide his delight at finally putting on a Reds shirt and helping Stanley to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games in the final match of the regular season, ahead of the play-offs.

"It felt brilliant to make my debut," said Burton.

"I’ve been waiting so long. I’ve been injured for the best part of 18 months and I’ve waited so long to finally play.

"I had a lateral ligament operation on my ankle and when I’ve been trying to come back through rehabilitation, because my ankle wasn’t strong, I kept turning it and injuring it.

"Now, touch wood, it’s all good and in the last three months I’ve been training and playing. To see my name on the team sheet was the best feeling ever."

He continued: "To be honest I didn’t think it would ever happen but I’m just grateful that the gaffer’s given me a chance in the last game of the season.

"It was hard watching people like Chris Turner come through because I played with them in the youth team and was thinking that I’d do that one day but then got injured and thought I’d never do it. I’m made up I have now.

"The gaffer’s always believed in me and I just needed that belief in myself and now hopefully I’ve got it.

"It’s been hard but all the lads here are brilliant. Just being around the lads every day puts a smile on your face and keeps you going."

Burton played his part against the Brewers as manager John Coleman made nine changes – giving some fringe players a chance to try and put their name in the play-off picture.

And Burton could have capped his debut with a goal if Albion keeper Adam Legzdins hadn’t kept his first half volley out.

"If that had gone in, oh my God! I thought it had gone in and was gutted that it hadn’t," added Burton.

As it was, it was an unlikely goal hero in Dean Winnard who popped up to score an 83rd minute equaliser to maintain the Reds’ unbeaten momentum going into Sunday’s clash at Stevenage in the first leg.

An inch perfect free kick from sub Chris Turner found the defender in front of his marker and he did well to clip the ball home.

This cancelled out Russell Penn’s opener after the winger had been left with all the time in the world just after the restart to head home one-time Stanley target Aaron Webster’s cross.

Burton, with nothing much to play for, were on top against the makeshift Stanley line-up in the first half.

But with the additions of regulars Andy Procter and Jimmy Ryan after the break, the Reds improved.

A point was the right result although Stanley have now drawn 14 of their 23 away games this season.

"I am delighted we kept the unbeaten run up but I wasn’t happy with the first half performance," said Coleman.

"It’s not like one of my sides to not be in the opposition’s face early on. We were really stand-offish and a bit disjointed.

"We showed credit and spirit to keep going until the end and I think we thoroughly deserved to equalise as we were the better team in the second half. It was a good finish by Dean.

"You saw how much it meant to the players and the fans when we equalised and we put to bed the theory that we came here not to try.

"And I was pleased for Alan Burton. I think he was playing on memory in the end but he had a smashing debut.

"He has been blighted with injury for two years so I am made up for him.

"And for Chris Turner to come on and put a great cross in for goal.

"I keep telling Dean Winnard every game that he is going to score so eventually it is going to happen."

Winnard joked he may have used his one goal of the season up but now it’s no joking matter – it’s the real business for Stanley of the play-offs.