Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick has called his players heroes after the nine-man Lions secured a 3-3 home draw against Worcester City on Tuesday.

Referee Graham Fyvie sent off midfielder Danny Boshell and skipper Mark Bower in the second half.

Guiseley were leading 2-0 at half-time and went 3-0 up after Boshell had got his marching orders but playing two men short for 20 minutes of the second period proved too much and Worcester pulled back three goals.

Kittrick, who felt that Fyvie showed his inexperience and could have cost the Lions the Blue Square Bet North title, said: “Reports on the Blue Square Bet North website and in the Worcester News seem to have overlooked the fact that we were down to nine men for so long.

“My players were heroes for their performance, but reading the reports you would have thought that City had battered us. As for the sending off of Boshell, which was key, the referee showed his inexperience.

“Danny’s challenge was nondescript and what the referee should have said was ‘You’re already on a booking. That is your final warning’, rather than sending him off.

“The referee told me that Danny’s tackle was cynical. I didn’t see it like that. He just tried to get his toe in to win the ball. I know he had already been booked but it didn’t need more than a stern warning.”

Boshell received his marching orders in the 53rd minute and he was followed to the dressing rooms 19 minutes later by defender Bower for what appeared to be a block tackle.

Kittrick added: “As for Bower’s l Continued – Page 54 challenge, it was said to be a two-footed tackle but there were too many people in the dug out and I couldn’t see it. But if it was two-footed then he deserved to be sent off.

“The ironic thing is that Mark had injured a hamstring about a minute before and if I had been able to substitute him he wouldn’t have even been on the pitch.

“The decisions of the referee were massive. At half-time we were 2-0 up and there wasn’t any way that I could see them coming back. “ Kittrick had a long discussion challenge, it was said to be a two-footed tackle but there were too many people in the dug out and I couldn’t see it. But if it was two-footed then he deserved to be sent off.

“The ironic thing is that Mark had injured a hamstring about a minute before and if I had been able to substitute him he wouldn’t have even been on the pitch.

“The decisions of the referee were massive. At half-time we were 2-0 up and there wasn’t any way that I could see them coming back. “ Kittrick had a long discussion with referee Fyvie afterwards and told him: ”You have killed us. The decisions you have made tonight could cost us the league.

“Even after Danny was sent off, we scored a third goal but once we were reduced to nine men it was ridiculous.

“We had our backs against the wall. We were reduced to ten men with nearly 40 minutes to go and then had to play with nine for the last 20 minutes or so.

“The lads train work hard all week then this happens. I am really disappointed with the referee.”

Bower will not be available for Saturday’s tough FA Trophy first-round clash with Blue Square Bet North leaders Brackley Town at Nethermoor because of his hamstring injury but at least midfielder Jack Rea has not broken a finger as was suspected.

Boshell will be suspended for two matches and Bower three but the bans do not kick in straight away.