Chester 1, Guiseley 1

GUISELEY climbed to 14th in the National League table after a battling performance at the Deva Stadium earned them a point against a Chester side who dropped a place to eighth.

Yet the Lions and their boss Mark Bower were once again left fuming after a howler of a decision from the match officials.

Guiseley are perceived as the little club at the top tier of the non-League game and, after being on the wrong end of some questionable decisions, they are beginning to wonder if they are losing out on some tight calls.

The Lions certainly competed with Chester and possibly edged the goalless first half despite the home side starting well and dictating the pace.

It took England and Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney's brother John to break the deadlock from the disputed penalty midway through the second half.

A cross into the area bounced up and hit Zac Thompson's arm but the official did not see it as ball to hand.

Bower made some attacking changes after Rooney's penalty beat Steve Drench and the introduction of Adam Boyes paid dividends as he netted the 84th-minute equaliser from close range after the home side failed to deal with a cross.

The Guiseley boss said: "We went away to a very good side who have started the season well and are one of the big clubs at this level and took a well-earned point.

"I thought we should have had a penalty in the first half but sometimes they're not given – and then we get another absolutely ridiculous decision given against us and we're 1-0 down.

"It's beginning to affect the lads in the dressing room and they are wondering just what is going on.

"The linesman gave the penalty, so we can't blame the referee, but we are concerned about consistency. The lads feel everything is going against us and a siege mentality is developing.

"On the positive side, we have got a point from what was always going to be a tough game and we have broken a run of two defeats.

"That is pleasing but if we had come away from Chester with nothing, it would have been very difficult for me to pick the lads up after that."