Managerless Exeter City battled well to grab a point against high-flying Rushden.
Exeter started as if they had a point to prove and Steve Flack headed James Coppinger's fine cross into the arms of the keeper in only the second minute.
Only five minutes were on the clock when Andy Roscoe's deep floating corner was met by Flack at the far post and he headed the ball into the top corner of the net.
Coppinger threatened to dance all the way into the box midway through the half but was fouled on the edge of the box.
Roscoe curled the resulting free kick around the wall but his effort was well saved by Billy Turley.
Rushden were level midway through the half with their first attempt on goal.
Mark Peters pumped a long ball into the box and Duane Darby was left with the simple task of taking the ball around Kevin Miller and tapping into an empty net.
Makeshift striker Paul Underwood came close to giving the visitors the lead when his 25-yard shot flew just over the bar as Rushden began to dominate.
Both teams chased the game in search of a winner after the break.
Miller saved superbly to keep out Underwood's close-range shot and frustrated the same player when he tipped his header over the bar.
At the other end Turley superbly turned youngster Reinier Moor's effort around the post.
Justin Walker lashed a shot wide after another surging run from Coppinger and in the closing stages Moor skipped past a defender and found Flack but his header dropped agonisingly past the post.
Exeter's temporary boss Eamonn Dolan said after the match: "It's been an horrendous week for us but I was delighted with the performance today and I enjoyed every minute of it."