Vanarama National League: Guiseley 1 Eastleigh 1

A LAST-GASP injury-time equaliser maintained Guiseley’s good home form as they banked another point in their quest for fifth-tier survival.

The Lions snatched victory from the Spitfires but a draw was the least they deserved from the game.

The visitors had also scored in stoppage time as they went into the interval with a narrow lead after James Constable rifled a shot into the bottom corner.

Martin Allen’s side should have doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half when a glorious opportunity opened up.

Substitute Sam Muggleton’s only excuse for not converting Sam Matthews’ cross was that he was cold after only just coming off the bench, having replaced Chinua Cole just over two minutes earlier.

Cole was one of three players making his debut for the Spitfires, all of which are loan signings brought in by the experienced Allen.

Guiseley had the visitors pegged back for most of the remainder of the game, and Simon Walton, substitute Jordan Preston, Jake Cassidy and Michael Rankine all went close.

Former Arsenal and Leeds United keeper Graham Stack was between the sticks for Eastleigh and almost kept a clean sheet.

The referee had indicated five minutes of stoppage time but inside the sixth Jake Lawlor forced the ball home after a corner led to a goalmouth scramble.

The result left both managers pleased that they hadn’t lost, but wondering why they hadn’t won.

Allen said: “I thought we played well. The new boys came in and did very, very well.

"They made us a better side to watch and gave us more energy, which is what I wanted.

“I’m very disappointed to lose that late goal but they piled everybody forward and we put another centre half on to help us defend those long balls, free-kicks and corners but a knock down fell and they smashed it in.

“This ain’t an easy place to come and play but I thought our players gave a good account of themselves.”

Lions boss Lockwood also felt that his players did well, saying: “I’m a believer in football in doing the right things to our standards and you get what you deserve.

“Not always but generally it evens itself out. I don’t think anyone can begrudge us something out of this game, and the lads are disappointed that we haven’t come way with more to be honest.

“But Eastleigh are a good team with good players and a good manager who I’ve had the privilege of playing under in my career.

“I would have liked us to have taken three points and I thought, at times, we did enough, but we only scored in the last minute, so I’m not fully happy.

"But it keeps the momentum at home going and we’ve come away with some sort of reward for the effort that we’ve put in.”