GUISBOROUGH Town manager Steve Dowling was left scratching his head in deep disappointment and wondering how his side ended up drawing their league match at Dunston UTS last Saturday.

After dominating key periods of the match, but with only a solitary goal to show for their efforts, the Priorymen fell to a classic late sucker punch as Dunston snatched a draw with an 89th-minute equaliser.

The game started positively for Guisborough, who looked like they were going to carry on where they left off from the North Riding Senior Cup semi-final victory against Marske in midweek.

In the 15th minute, a Dan McWilliams free kick was glanced in by Steve Snaith, only for the assistant on the far side to raise his flag for offside.

But the visitors took a deserved lead just a minute later when a through ball to striker Danny Earl saw him evade the offside trap and strike a low, powerful shot across goal and in off the post.

The goal seemed to kick-start Dunston into gear and a 20-yard strike from Michael Pearson rocketed just inches past the top of the left-hand post with keeper Nick Liversedge beaten at full stretch. The home side looked more confident after this and had plenty of the ball, but they lacked real finishing power and it was Guisborough who could have increased their lead with some smart counter-attacking, with Earl and Connor Smith going close.

With an hour gone, Guisborough created their opening chance of the second half when Earl turned inside his opponent and got in a low shot, only to be denied by the legs of Dunston keeper Liam Connell, one of several good saves he made throughout the game.

Guisborough continued to raise their game, with a McWilliams 12-yard strike on 72 minutes deflecting onto the top of the bar and a Smith shot from the edge of the penalty area flying narrowly over soon afterwards.

At this point, with about 10 minutes to go, Dunston must have been wondering why Guisborough were not out of sight. But, still trailing by only one goal and sensing they might get something out of the game, they surged forward in search of an equaliser. It finally came in the 89th minute when Malcolm Morien headed the ball home from close range.

With four minutes of added time given, Dunston pressed forward again and managed a couple of efforts at grabbing what would have been an unlikely winner.

For Guisborough, it was a case of two points dropped rather than one gained as they rued their earlier missed chances to kill the game off.

Dowling said afterwards: “Disappointment is an understatement about how we feel about not winning this game by at least two clear goals. We dominated the first half, but only had one goal to show for our efforts and good play – an excellent one from Danny Earl.

“At half-time we spoke about being wary of a strong Dunston reaction and how they would pressure us, and although they did just that I felt we coped well with everything they threw at us. Then, just as I thought we had seen the game out as the final whistle approached, a free header from Dunston in our box from a corner cost us very dear.”