A HAT-TRICK from Matty Pennal helped Guisborough Town salvage some pride with a hard-fought 3-3 draw against Consett last Saturday.

The game followed their incredible 5-4 home defeat by Seaham Red Star in midweek after they led 4-0 with less than half an hour to go.

It was a topsy-turvy game at the KGV on Saturday, with the lead changing hands three times before Consett grabbed a controversial equaliser three minutes from time.

Guisborough’s opening goal came after just 52 seconds when a Thibault Charmey free kick from 25 yards out was blocked and the Frenchman hit a superb low shot from the rebound which Consett keeper Chris Elliott managed to push aside at full stretch. But Jamie Poole lifted the ball back across goal and Pennal volleyed in clinically near the far post.

Consett’s Lewis Teasdale headed against the bar five minutes later before Pennal surged clear on 17 minutes, but Elliott used his left leg to block the Guisborough striker’s low shot.

On 24 minutes, Consett mounted a dangerous attack which ended with home keeper Ryan Catterick pulling off a point-blank reaction save from a Danny Craggs header. Eight minutes later, Joe Ferguson was put through by the hard-working and creative Charmey, but his shot was well-saved at the near post by Elliott.

On 39 minutes, Leon Carling was penalised for a foul near the edge of the Guisborough penalty area and Craggs made the Priorymen pay dearly when his cleverly flighted free kick gave Catterick no chance.

Five minutes into the second half, Consett took a 2-1 lead when the Guisborough defence failed to clear and Teasdale found the corner of the net with a well-directed header.

But the lead lasted only nine minutes before Guisborough midfield general Gary Wood sent over a peach of a cross and Pennal rose majestically to head the ball home for 2-2.

Two minutes later, Wood was booked in a case of mistaken identity for a foul on Consett sub Clark Kay, who was clearly tripped by Wood’s midfield partner Chris Youldon.

Pennal headed over in the 67th minute when he should have scored, but Guisborough regained the lead in the 75th minute when Pennal completed his hat-trick. Wood hit another penetrating ball forward and Elliott got to the ball a split second before Pennal, but the Consett keeper only succeeded in blasting the ball against Pennal’s heel and it ricocheted 25 yards back over the Consett goal-line.

Consett equalised in controversial fashion three minutes from the end when a corner from the left looked to be deflected behind for what should have been a Guisborough goal kick. But the referee gave another corner to Consett and the ball was floated over for Sullivan to rise and head home for 3-3.

There was a final sting in the tale after the final whistle when Wood, clearly still upset about his booking and the disputed corner, spoke out of turn and was shown the red card by the referee.

Guisborough have been deducted three points and fined £200 for fielding an ineligible player.

The player, Peter Bulmer, who was a contract player at Guisborough last season, agreed revised contract terms with the club for the 2016-17 season. The contract was registered with the FA and the Northern League and Bulmer played for the club on that basis from the start of the season.

He subsequently asked the club to amend aspects of his contract. He was advised that this was not possible, but to retain his services the club ultimately agreed that Bulmer would continue to play on a non-contract basis. The FA was advised of this and acknowledged receipt of the change, but there was a delay in confirming the change of status with the Northern League, who charged the club with playing Bulmer when he was not registered.

Prior to the decision, Guisborough fully explained the circumstances in writing and in person to the Northern League disciplinary committee.

A club spokesman said: “The club has apologised to the management, players, officials and supporters for this error. A thorough review of all our administration procedures has been undertaken and measures put in place to prevent recurrence in the future.”