Guisborough Town 2 Newcastle Benfield 2

A STUNNING late Dave Onions goal inspired a fightback by Guisborough Town to earn a precious point against Newcastle Benfield at the KGV Stadium last Saturday and give new manager Gary Forster a tremendous boost in his bid to save the Priorymen from relegation.

It was all Guisborough in the opening few minutes of the game as they mounted several threatening and penetrative attacks, but without getting the decisive final touch.

Benfield regained their composure and should have taken the lead on 12 minutes, but McCarthy ballooned the ball over from close range when it should have been easier to score.

The game continued to swing from end to end and Guisborough went closest to opening the scoring on 33 minutes when Mason McNeil, deservedly promoted to the first team from the development side, got in a superb header from a corner, but visiting keeper Andrew Grainger pulled off a great save to claw the ball away for another corner.

Then, just two minutes from half-time, a neat Sam Orritt pass set up McNeil again, but this time he shot wide when he really should have scored.

Benfield came out a different side after the interval to stamp their authority on the game and it was no surprise when they deservedly took the lead on 58 minutes. Veteran striker Paul Brayson found himself unmarked eight yards out and made no mistake to beat Guisborough keeper James Dawson.

Six minutes later, Benfield doubled their lead when Guisborough were harshly penalised for handball and Brayson stepped up to hit an unstoppable spot kick into the roof of the net.

With only a minute of normal time left and Guisborough seemingly heading for defeat, striker Onions unleashed an unstoppable piledriver from 20 yards out which flew into the back of the net, giving Grainger no chance.

Onions’ late goal galvanised Guisborough, who surged forward in the fourth minute of time added on and substitute Ged Livingstone was pulled down as he charged through into the Benfield penalty area. Referee Matthew Sowerby had no hesitation in awarding Guisborough a penalty and Paul Blake coolly smashed the spot kick into the back of the net to make it 2-2 and rescue a priceless point for Guisborough.

The result lifted the Priorymen up one place to 20th, although still seven points from safety.

Forster was cautiously optimistic after his first game in charge and hopes to strengthen his side in the coming weeks as they fight for division one survival.

He said: “I thought it was an entertaining game which we slightly edged in the first half, but lost our way a little in the second. I was really pleased with the lads’ endeavour and commitment to the cause. This should stand us in good stead for the rest of the season.”

After all the problems Guisborough have endured so far this season, with an unprecedented run of bad injuries and loss of several key players, this morale-boosting point was fully deserved.

Guisborough's next game is an away fixture at Newton Aycliffe tomorrow, with a 3pm kick-off, then there is a gap until the traditional Boxing Day fixture at derby rivals Marske United, kick-off 11am.