> 16.4.2007

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When they needed a  win so desperately, they could only muster a draw, so the Pitmen's fading play-off hopes now rest on them other sides slipping up in the final two games of the season

Gary Sucharwycz's injury jinx meant he missed out again, with Danny Bacon returning to the line-up in his place. Otherwise, it was as you were for the side that lost to Ilkeston at the weekend

It was a good start from the visitors, themselves looking to cement a play-off place. They got their noses in front inside the first ten minutes; Richard Dunning took a free kick outside the area that took a deflection off the end of the wall and sailed past Ryan Young

Ross Dyer came up with a response, forcing Guiseley keeper Steve Dickinson into a flying save to deny the teenager after he headed Ross Adams' cross goalwards

Tom Marshall could have levelled matters, but he wasted his chance by blasting over after good work from Mario Pedro on fourteen minutes. At the other end, Dunning almost repeated his trick from earlier, but missed the post by a narrow margin this time around

Adams was having a fine game, and tried his luck with a long range drive that flew just over Dickinson's crossbar. Adams then created the Pitmen's equaliser on thirty eight minutes, swinging in a free kick that was eventually forced home by Ross Dyer at the far post

It got better for the Pitmen, and they raised hopes of a late push for the play-offs by taking the lead a couple of minutes later. Yet another great ball from Adams from the right found Mario Pedro, who got his head to the ball but saw Dickinson save it. The ball fell nicely to the Portuguese winger, who lashed the ball into the roof of the net from a tight angle

Guiseley came back at the Pitmen after the break, with Young having to be at his best to deny Craig Hall five minutes after the restart

Young was being put under pressure by the Guiseley attack, and had to be at his best on fifty two minutes to deny Gavin Knight. From the resultant corner, Sam Denton rose to head home the equaliser for the visitors

The visitors had their tails up, and went in search of an winner. Dunning tried again from a free kick, but this time found Young in the way on fifty seven minutes

For the hosts, Bacon could have won it for them, but missed with a weak header at goal after a cross from Pedro had set him up. How he missed it, only he will know

Dyer also had a chance with his head, but he could not guide it home after getting on the end of another wonderful Adams set-piece with seventeen minutes left

And so it ended all square, with the Pitmen looking upon this game - as they have many in the second half of the season - and thinking of what might have been  cds

Ashton United (H)

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