An early penalty put third placed Whitby Town in the driving seat at Nethermoor last night but an improved Guiseley display in the second half saw them come back to claim a point.

The result keeps Guiseley in the mix for the play-offs but following Monday's home draw against neighbours Farsley Celtic it remains an outside chance.

With Guiseley struggling before the break they will be satisfied with the outcome.

The visitors began with a purpose and were soon in the lead following a disputed fifth-minute penalty. Guiseley midfielder Richard Chattoe was penalised for shirt-pulling and Craig Veart stepped forward to beat home keeper John Lamb from the spot.

It was midway through the first period before Guiseley fashioned a real attempt at the Whitby goal but former Bantams midfielder Mark Stuart's effort was just wide of the target.

The visitors looked comfortable with their slender lead until just after the interval. In the 49th minute Guiseley skipper Jeremy Illingworth netted the equaliser, converting Dave Henry's cross with a header.

In a game of few genuine chances Guiseley came closest to grabbing a winner and Illingworth was in the thick of the action. He tested the visitors' keeper with ten minutes to go before Stephen Ball saw a free kick deflected.

Illingworth was then just off target with a late header and a right-foot shot.

"We were poor in the first half, they were out of the blocks and had us under pressure," admitted Parsley.

"I thought the penalty appeal against Chatts was a bit harsh but you have to trust the officials on these decisions, things can look different close up.

"For the rest of the first half they were dominant. They could have been out of sight if they had turned their possession into chances.

"After the break we played pressure football and did well without creating too many gilt-edged chances ourselves. A draw was fair and it was more tight than the game we lost at their place on Good Friday."