FC Halifax Town 1, Guiseley 1

Everything is resting on the second leg of this Blue Square Bet North play-off semi-final after the West Yorkshire neighbours cancelled each other out at The Shay tonight.

There was a lively start to the game, with a lot of nervous energy being released as the two rivals got stuck into the end-of-season extras.

The home side broke the deadlock from a 15th-minute penalty after Dan Gardiner kept his cool and drilled in from the spot, despite having to go through a re-take.

Matty Pearson had taken a tumble in the area after an aerial challenge.

Andy McWilliams had to clear another Halifax effort off the line soon after, and a later shot from Alex Johnson clipped a defender before Steve Drench gathered.

The Shaymen were well on top at that stage, and Lee Gregory should have doubled their advantage but saw his shot deflected by a desperate defensive block.

The Lions were licking their wounds but they did reach the interval just one goal down, despite a late first-half effort ruffling the side-netting of Steve Drench’s goal.

Lions’ striker James Walshaw saw a shot cleared off the line early in the second half but the visitors got their equaliser when Danny Ellis headed an Andy Holdsworth free-kick past the Shaymen’s keeper Matt Glennon.

Halifax came straight back but a shot from Gregory hit the inside of a post.

Guiseley midfielder Seb Carole sent a dipping effort just over Glennon’s bar as play swung from end to end.

Drench made two more very fine saves but his opposite number was also tested as he palmed away a shot from Josh Wilson deep into stoppage time.

The outcome is balanced on a knife-edge for the second leg on Saturday, which is all-ticket.

Lee Sinnott’s Altrincham snatched the initiative in the other semi-final as they came from a goal down to beat Brackley Town 2-1 at home, Jake Moult’s injury-time winner giving them a slender lead to take to Brackley.