Following on from last week’s FA Cup heroics Guiseley ran fourth placed Spennymoor close in a pulsating National League North contest at Nethermoor this afternoon and perhaps for some contentious decision by the officials could well have come away with all three points.
In a first half lacking any clear cut chances it was the visitors, who included former Lions Rob Atkinson and Adam Boyes in their squad, who took the lead from the spot when Cliff Moyo was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area.
To all intent and purposes, it looked like a clear case of ball to arm rather than a deliberate act but Glen Taylor stepped up to despatch a well taken penalty past Jon Worsnop who had been preferred over Joe Green between the sticks for Guiseley on 43 minutes.
The irony being that monents before the home side looked to have a valid claim for a spot kick waved away as Hatfield looked have been pushed over in the box.
Prior to this the Lions had seen a potential goal, ruled out by an offside flag that looked dubious to say the least.
Former Gateshead centre back James Curtis saw his header bounce over the bar on the restart but the home side were level just before the hour as Rowan Liburd shot beyond Matthew Gould into the far corner after his first effort had been blocked by a defender.
Worsnop then pulled off a superb reaction save to deny Robert Ramshaw as chances came and went at both ends and Will Hatfield had an overhead kick tipped over late on.
Stephen Brogan managed to get himself sent off for the visitors just before the end for a second bookable offence.
Team:
1-Worsnop
2-Moyo
3-Heaton
4-Purver
5-Cummings
6-Halls
7-Felix (Clayton)
8-James
9-Clayton (Odejayi 75)
10-Hatfield
11-Walters
Subs:
12-Morrison
14-Thornton
15-Harvey
16-Clayton
17-Smith