FC United must replay their FA Trophy preliminary round at Radcliffe on Wednesday night after hosts Bradford Park Avenue grabbed a controversial second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
Top marksman Rory Patterson edged the Rebels in front 10 minutes after the break, but Avenue clawed back when striker Paul Gedman seemed to collide with keeper Sam Ashton.
The ball broke free and Gedman finished coolly.
FC boss Karl Marginson said the Bradford goal was a clear foul, but he was buoyed by his side's performance on the back of last Tuesday's woeful 3-1 league defeat at Skelmersdale.
"I said I wanted a 100 per cent improvement and I think I've got it," said Marginson.
Avenue adopted a defensive style from the start, inviting United to attack their goal with ease.
But a double injury blow for FC - striker Stuart Rudd and winger Adam Carden going off hurt - scuppered their forward play and they had to wait until the second half to pose a serious threat to Jon Worsnop's goal.
After being denied with three long-range efforts, Patterson made no mistake with his fourth chance.
2 Liam Foster
3 ShaunRoscoe
4 Steve Spencer
5 Dave Chadwick(captain)
6 Rob Nugent
7 Adam Carden
8 Simon Carden
9 Stuart Rudd
10 Jerome Wright
11 Rory Patterson
Subs
12 Chris Baguley(for 4, 79mins)
14 Nicky Platt(for 7, 12mins)
15 Cayne Hanley(for 9, 16mins)
Attendance 1310
Scorers
P Gedman 75 Patterson 54