GUISELEY ended Stockport County’s winning run as they came back to claim a draw against their Vanarama National League North promotion-chasing visitors and it was the least the Lions deserved.

It was another creditable draw but it was a 13th stalemate this term and it was no help to the Lions as they remain fourth from bottom and just five points clear of the relegation places.

Stockport are still second but they benefited from the draw as they are now one point closer to leaders Chorley, who were beaten 5-3 at Southport.

County were on a run of 10 straight victories in all competitions as they headed to Nethermoor and had won their last seven league games. They looked like making it eight on the trot as two former Lions went close to opening the scoring as the Hatters started well.

Frank Mulhern had a second-minute close range shot blocked for a corner and Ash Palmer had the ball in Guiseley’s net in the 10th minute. In a twist of fate it was Guiseley’s former Stockport man Andy Halls who had conceded a free-kick and, when it was whipped in on the stiff breeze, Palmer headed it past home keeper Marcus Dewhurst but then saw an offside flag.

It was an open game, though, and the Lions had chances. Kayode Odejayi, the other of the two former Hatters in the Guiseley starting line-up, pounced as the visitors’ keeper Ben Hinchliffe spilled the ball but his shot was blocked, by Palmer, for the home side’s first corner.

There were two blows for the home side late in the first half, the first coming when Kennedy Digie’s debut was curtailed by injury, the midfielder had treatment but minutes later was forced to make way for Alex Purver.

The second blow was County’s opening goal three minutes before the break. A shot from Matty Warburton was parried by Dewhurst but only as far as Darren Stephenson who tucked the rebound into the net.

Guiseley started the second half well and after a spell of pressure George Cantrill netted the equaliser. He and Cliff Moyo played a neat one-two before Cantrill raced away and drilled a shot past Hinchcliffe.

The Lions were looking for a winner and felt that they had a penalty claim when Will Hatfield went down in the area but the midfielder received a yellow card as the referee saw it as simulation.

Joint-manager Russ O’Neill said: “It was a real tough game against a side who were on a run like they were.

“The conditions played a big part in the game and we were forced into a change and they scored just after that change which was disappointing because I thought if we got to half time all square we’d have a good chance to in the second half.

“We played well in that second half and got the goal back but as I said it was a tough game against a very good side and, I don’t know, a draw was probably a fair result even though we created some really good chances, especially in that second half.”