Guiseley edged further away from the relegation places as they came from behind to grab a precioius point against a York City side who had taken an early lead and with a little more luck late on the home side could have registered their second win on the bounce.

The game itself encapsulated the Lions season in a nutshell as they struggled to gain a foothold in the first half against a full time York team had taken an early lead as the unmarked Paddy McLaughlin headed home Alex Kempster’s cross from ten yards out before an improved second half performance ended with Kingsley James rescuing a point with twelve minutes remaining.

There was little evidence of the  form that had earned three very welcome points against Curzon Ashton in midweek from the Lions but the Minstermen failed to take full advantage of their first half supremacy as they wasted several good openings.

Not that they had it all their own way as a cross from Kaine Felix skimmed off the head of a defender and the onrushing James hit a half volley into the side netting.

Felix himself also had a good chance shortly after but with little time to set himself up his shot lacked power and Adam Bartlett saved comfortably.

Four minutes after the restart the home side signalled their intent as James had the ball in the net but his goal was disallowed by an offside flag.

City continued to push forward without creating any clear cut opportunities but it was Guiseley who rang tactical changes with the introduction of Will Hatfield in place of Jack Dyche and new loan signing from Fleetwood Michael Fowler replacing Dylan Barkers.

From this point on Guiseley looked a different side as Hatfield battled away in midfield while Flowers was beginning to unsettle City’s central defenders Sean Newton and Joe Taint who up to then had comfortably dealt with the home offensives.

The resurgence resulted in the equaliser on 78 minutes as George Cantrill and Felix combined down the right channel for the former to race to the byeline and deliver an inviting cross for James to crashed home and square matters.

Now playing with confidence and purpose it was the Lions who almost snatched an unlikely victory with three minutes remaining as Alex Purver’s shot came back of the post and Andy Halls effort was deflected over the bar.

This might have been the home sides sixteenth draw of the season but with results elsewhere going their way – Ashton losing at Leamington and FCUM surprisingly losing at home to rock-bottom Nuneaton – the gap between the Lions and third bottom United of Manchester is now six points.

Guiseley now head to out-of-sorts Spennymoor on Tuesday evening for their game in hand which offers an ideal opportunity to put even more clear water between themselves and the bottom three.

Team:

1 Dewhurst

2 Halls

3 Cantrill

4 Purver

5 Langley

6 Garner

7 Felix (Morrison 84)

8 Barkers (Fowler 69)

9 Odejayi

10 James

11 Dyche (Hatfield 57)

Subs:

12 Digie

14 Hatfield

15 Thornton

16 Fowler

17 Morrison