Vanarama National League: Grimsby Town 1 Guiseley 1

A BATTLING Guiseley earned a point from their trip to promotion-chasing Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park in an enthralling clash.

The Mariners, roared on by a crowd in excess of 5,000, laid siege to the Lions’ goal in the latter stages but couldn’t breach the visitors’ defences. However, Paul Hurst’s side stayed third in the table and remain one of the firm favourites to return to the Football League.

Guiseley stunned everyone inside Blundell Park when they took the lead with a scorching strike against the run of play, and that galvanised the home side into redoubling their efforts.

Grimsby striker Omar Bogle was troublesome from the first whistle as the Mariners took the game to the Lions but, although Guiseley chipped away and had spells of possession, their goal came out of the blue.

A rare attack late in the first half culminated in Ryan Toulson's crossing being deflected to Oliver Norburn on the edge of the area, and he lashed it on the half-volley past Mariners keeper James McKeown.

After the interval, Grimsby were straight onto the front foot again and there was trouble for Guiseley, who were already understrength through injuries and illness, when Tom Craddock limped off.

Liam Dickinson, on his way back from injury, replaced the stricken forward.

There were yellow cards for Dickinson and Danny Boshell as the Lions defended with their lives and also a yellow card for Grimsby’s Josh Gowling for a rash challenge on Will Hatfield as the home side’s frustrations threatened to get the better of them.

The Mariners got their deserved goal in the 72nd minute when a ball into the area deflected off Adam Lockwood into the path of Padraig Amond, who swept the ball past Steve Drench.

Guiseley’s nerves were jangling, especially in the five minutes of time added on, but they held out for a point.

It was the type of gritty display Lions boss Mark Bower demanded after his side slipped to a 3-0 defeat following a poor second-half display at Gateshead last Monday.

Bower said: “We wanted a reaction from that second-half performance at Gateshead, and the lads stuck to the game-plan really well but, most of all, the lads gave everything.

“The headers, the tackles, the blocks, they put their bodies on the line against the team that I think is the best in the league.

"They (Grimsby) had possession but real chances were few and far between.

“I’m disappointed with the goal we conceded but Ollie’s was a great strike – he and Danny (Boshell) put in a real shift in the middle.

"I thought they should have had a man sent off for that foul on Will.

"If that was the other way round with 5,000 fans baying, I wonder what would have happened?”