Torquay United 1, Guiseley 1

GUISELEY returned from their first trip to the south coast for a league game with a hard-earned point that ensured they stayed above hosts Torquay United in the National League table.

There was good early pressure from the Lions but when the home side threatened, keeper Steve Drench was on hand to keep the game scoreless.

Mark Bower's men should really have taken the lead before Liam Dickinson's 28th-minute penalty as Jake Lawlor saw a header tipped over from a corner and, soon after, Zac Thompson hit the post from a free-kick.

The locals, both players and supporters, were incensed when the referee gave the Lions the spot-kick for a foul by Exodus Geohaghon just minutes after the Seagulls had a strong penalty claim at the other end for a similar-looking offence.

Dickinson remained calm and sent the home keeper the wrong way from the spot – but Guiseley's lead lasted just five minutes as Geohaghon redeemed himself by forcing home the equaliser following a corner.

Torquay ended the first half well and probably edged the second. However, it was still a close encounter and the Plainmoor woodwork came to the rescue of the home side yet again.

Will Hatfield had spurned a glorious opportunity presented by Wayne Brooksby but, into the final ten minutes, Brooksby went on his own and beat the home keeper with a shot across the face of goal, only to see it hit the far upright.

The Seagulls could have snatched it late on and some arguments between the sides broke out after the final whistle, which resulted in Lions skipper Ben Parker picking up a yellow card.

Bower reflected: "If I'd been offered a point beforehand, I would have settled for it – but not, on the balance of play, after it.

"I thought we finally got a decision when we got the penalty, which Liam tucked away, but there was a pivotal decision later in the game. There was a foul on Zac which I thought was a clear penalty but nothing was given.

"We hit the woodwork again and the ball runs along the line and is cleared, so I just don't think its going for us in front of goal at the minute.

"They (Torquay) came back at us and I thought the second half was a typical away performance when we had to put bodies on the line."