Vanarama National League North: Guiseley 1 AFC Telford United 1

GUISELEY have their first point on the board in the Vanarama National League North after coming from a goal down to rescue a draw against AFC Telford United.

The visiting Bucks took the lead through a contentious penalty deep into the second half before the Lions forced an equaliser in the penultimate minute.

Telford had been running the clock down before conceding but in the four minutes of added time, both sides pushed for a winner.

Neither managed one, which was just about fair as neither side really deserved three points from a tight contest.

Marcus Bignot, one of Guiseley’s joint managers, said: “I think you have to applaud the character of our players after a game like that.

“Going into that, on the back of two defeats, confidence could have been low and they might not have had the heart to come back after Telford went in front.

"But they looked determined not to lose and our season is off and running now.

“The penalty is a penalty because the referee has given it. My opinion on it doesn’t matter.

"But we do seem to be on the wrong end of some of these fine margins, there was an incident in last Tuesday’s defeat at home to Chorley, but it’s about what our players did today and the key word is character.

“I thought, in terms of possession and territory, they (Telford) had the better of the first half but we started the second half well and had the momentum.

"We were on top and Kaine Felix got into the game the longer it went on.

“It changed with their goal but we had done well and I was pleased when we got the late goal back because we didn’t deserve to lose.”

Minutes into the second half, Felix showed his lightning pace and he delivered an excellent cross but the Bucks’ defence hacked it clear.

Midway through the half, Cliff Moyo sent in teasing cross and Telford centre back Theo Street tentatively stabbed out a boot as the defence looked shaky.

That led to a corner from which Felix saw his fierce drive blocked by a desperate lunge. But the Bucks countered from that and Darryl Knights brought a top save from Guiseley keeper Jon Worsnop.

The Lions’ keeper was back in the spotlight in the 75th minute when Bucks’ substitute Andre Brown reached a through ball just before him.

It was just inside the area and the forward tumbled to the floor as Worsnop protested that no contact had been made.

Referee Paul Brown appeared to have given a goal kick, but after conferring with his assistant, awarded the penalty. Brown spotted the ball himself and sent Worsnop the wrong way.

An error by Telford skipper Shane Sutton invited Guiseley to attack and they plundered their late equaliser.

Sutton sliced an attempted clearance and substitute Curtis Morrison chased it down. His low drive into the goalmouth was deflected beyond Bucks’ keeper Sheridan Martinez.