Guiseley 2

Leek Town 2

GUISELEY'S new central defender Jon Wordsworth was devastated when the referee and his assistant adjudged him to have intentionally handled the ball and awarded a penalty. As David McPherson sent Chris Hill the wrong way from the spot it looked as if a game Guiseley had seen win written all over it was going to end up in defeat.

As it was they fought back from 2-1 down to share the spoils with their fourth successive draw in the league. Guiseley really should have done better in these matches although confidence building they are doing little to improve their lowly league position and must be looked upon as points lost in many ways.The performances have been good but the goal chances have not been put away.

They had an early strike from Boxing Day bad boy Mark Stuart (red carded) ruled out for off-side after 'keeper Phil Morgan had got a hand to David Cooke's low drive and pushed it out. At the other end Chris Hill stuck out a foot to stop an effort from Adam Martin. Guiseley carved out a number of chances and for all the effort of David Cooke he is not the finished article as a striker and manager Neil Parsley must be hoping that one or other of his main strikers - Ryan Senior or Alan Bailey - will be back in action soon to convert the chances.

Cooke can never be faulted for effort or bravery and after his stamping by Farsley's Paul Stevenson on Boxing Day he came out with a plaster on the deep cut in his forehead that had been glued. He gave another energy packed display but should have done better with some of the opportunities created.

Mind you he is not the only one at fault in that department and often it is not the person having the shot who is at fault but the poor service they are given.

A number of times players in good positions were left stretching to get in a shot when a better judged pass would have given them a great opportunity.

Hill seemed to have an attack of the jitters as the greasy ball made things difficult but as his side moved forward again Stuart flicked the ball goalwards. The effort was blocked but the lightening Cooke was there to hammer the ball goalwards but his effort was also blocked.

In the 39th minute Peter Sumner, battling hard as ever, won back possession and sent Andy Shuttleworth away and his superb crossfield ball was taken in his stride by Cooke but as seems to be Guiseley's fate at the moment his shot ricocheted against the foot of the post and went to safety.

Guiseley came out for the second-half determined to make their possession pay and Nathan Hay's teasing cross drifted onto the bar. Leek hit back with Martin sending a header goalwards with Hill out of his goal but the effort was off target.

In the 56th minute Guiseley got the breakthrough they had been searching for when Dave Henry was there to meet Peter Atkinson's cross and head in from six yards.

Leek sent on Steve Taaffe for midfielder John Hassall and started to step up their attacks. Guiseley could have made it 2-0 in the 75th minute when Stuart's short corner routine saw him regain the ball and whip it in to the far post where it looked easier for Cooke to score than miss with his header.

Guiseley were made to pay for this miss just two minutes later when Martin headed in a textbook goal from an accurate Ridley cross.

Guiseley threw on Nicky Hey and Kevin Newhouse for the over worked Richard Chattoe and the under par Andy Shuttleworth in a bid to step things up.

However, tragedy struck Guiseley in the 83rd minute when Daniel Bainbridge was tussling with Peter Atkinson and he managed to hit the ball against Wordsworth. The centre-back was only a couple of feet away and had no chance of getting out of the way. The assistant saw it otherwise and flagged for a penalty for handball. David McPherson slotted the spot kick past Hill to put the visitors ahead.

Sumner's never-say-die spirit paid off once again for Guiseley with the midfielder powering in the equaliser with an angled shot as he met Mark Stuart's cross on the right hand side of the penalty area. It was no less than Guiseley deserved.

Manager Neil Parsley said: "Over the last two games I thought our performances warranted all six points but we finished up with two. After playing on Boxing Day I had the dilemma of going with the team that battled so well at Farsley or resting a few. Perhaps I should have made my substitutions earlier in the Leek game but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

"We were winning the game and then had that poor penalty decision made against us. Jon Wordsworth had no chance of getting out of the way of the ball. That and the disallowed Mark Stuart goal were two big decisions that went against us.

"Our luck has got to turn sometime. We have been playing well."

l On Saturday Guiseley travel to Lincoln United with the Reserves entertaining Farsley Celtic (2pm). On Monday Guiseley entertain Droylsden in the re-arranged league cup game (7.45 pm).