Worcester City 1-1 Guiseley AFC
Vanarama Conference North
Jonny Bonell reports from Aggborough
Attendance: 333
TEN-MAN Worcester City dug deep and held on to a very credible point against promotion hopefuls Guiseley tonight (Tuesday).
The Blue and Whites had to play more than 65 minutes a man light after Aaron Brown was handed a straight red card for a last-ditch foul on the ever-lively Wayne Brooksby.
But the deficit didn’t deter Carl Heeley’s side and they took the lead ten minutes later thanks to a Mike Symons header before Adam Boyes’ second-half strike pulled the scores back level.
A resolute and disciplined ending to the encounter saw the Aggborough outfit earn their point in front of the lowest home crowd of the season and put a dent in their rivals’ Conference Premier charge.
It was an end-to-end start to proceedings as the visitors looked to cement their place in the Conference North play-offs, while the hosts were seeking to close the gap on their fifth place rivals to just six points.
Sean Geddes was close to adding to his 13-goal tally when he bent his effort narrowly over the top while at the other end Jake Lawlor rashly fired wide after Ryan Toulson’s long throw had been allowed to travel through the Worcester box.
Coming up against the promotion hopefuls was always going to be a test for Heeley’s men but that test was made harder after 22 minutes as Brooksby burst through a static midfield and was cynically brought down by Brown. Referee Tim Wood deemed the defensive midfielder to be the last man and a straight red was brandished.
It seemed like Worcester would be in for a long night following the dismissal as Liam Dickinson narrowly put the resulting free-kick over the bar, he then flicked Toulson’s low cross onto the post before Boyes fired just too high from 25 yards.
But the hosts settled and showed the fighting spirit which has epitomised their season so far as Tristan Dunkley battled well down the left to win a corner off the impressive Toulson. Geddes’ delivery was just right for Symons to climb highest and flick his header into the far corner.
The goal seemed to spur Guiseley on and Mark Bower’s men wasted a hatful of chances before the break as Dickinson twice fired wide when well placed and the dangerous Brooksby fizzed an effort which Boot kept out.
Brooksby was a constant thorn in Heeley’s side and despite ballooning an effort out of the Aggborough stadium after 50 minutes his dangerous run and cross ten minutes later beat Boot all ends up and was inches away from finding Boyes.
The goal the Yorkshire outfit’s pressure had warranted finally did arrive with 63 minutes on the clock.
Danny Lowe did well to dig a cross out on the left which substitute Nicky Boshell headed back across goal, the ball hit Dickinson and fell perfectly to Boyes who had the simple task of firing into the back of the net.
It was a backs-to-the-wall job for the hosts as Guiseley sensed their opportunity to take all three points, Dickinson guilty of yet another missed chance as he dragged his strike harmlessly past the far post.
But the elusive goal failed to arrive for the visitors and they headed back to Yorkshire with just the solitary point in the bag.