GUISELEY remain bottom of the Vanarama National League following a 1-1 home draw with FC Halifax Town.

The hosts were reduced in numbers in controversial circumstances just before the break in this West Yorkshire derby but still banked a point from the visit of Halifax Town.

With seven of the bottom eight all drawing, a draw did not help them as they are still 13 points from safety with nine games remaining.

The mid-table Shaymen, however, will have been pleased to leave Nethermoor with a share of the spoils after Guiseley, even with 10 men, looked the most likely to claim all three points.

John Rooney was the man shown a red card – but it was not clear what for. The ball was cleared after the visitors had forced a corner but a flag from the assistant referee ended Guiseley’s counter-attack.

After the officials had conferred, Rooney was shown a red card and the Shaymen’s Scott McManus was shown a yellow following an altercation. There was mass confusion and during the remonstrations, Guiseley skipper Kayode Odejayi was also booked.

Odejayi had already given his side the lead by then, heading home Rooney’s 13th minute floated free-kick. Rooney was influential as the Lions bossed the midfield against their 15th-placed neighbours and a free-kick from the midfielder midway through the first half caused panic in the Town area before he later hit a post in a goalmouth scramble.

The Shaymen were on top early in the second half with the man advantage and the bitterly cold strong winds behind them but it took until the 67th minute to find the equaliser.

Keeper Sam Johnson’s long punt was misjudged by centre back Harry Flowers and Ben Tomlinson chipped it on the half-volley over home keeper Luke Coddington.

Guiseley held firm and ended strongly with Dayle Southwell having a shot well saved by Johnson, Rowan Liburd heading against the base of a post and Will Hatfield forcing Johnson to palm another effort around his post.

Caretaker Guiseley boss Sean St Ledger said: “It was very, very difficult, especially with that wind. We had it with us in the first half and created numerous opportunities.

“Then obviously with the sending off just before half-time – going against the wind with 10 men was always going to be very difficult. But I have to be proud of every one of the players – they wanted the three points.

“We didn’t get them but we dug out a draw. Last week we went down to 10 men and lost, so in terms of growth you can look at it and say against the wind and in adversity we’ve got a point.

“The lads have been fantastic and again I can ask no more of them. If we continue to play like that we will win more than we lose.”

Speaking about the dismissal he admitted he was as stunned as anyone.

He said: “I don’t think anyone in the stadium thought that it was a sending off. John Rooney was nowhere near the incident so I find it baffling how you can send someone off.

“Where’s VAR when you need it?”