Gainsborough Trinity 1 Lancaster City 1

GAINSBOROUGH'S Brian Linighan could afford to smile as the final whistle blew on Saturday.

After giving the Blues the lead with an own goal in the 24th minute, he waited to the dying second to redeem himself and score an equaliser. He then hooked the ball off the line in the death throes of injury time.

But Linighan's dramatic contribution offered the only reason to smile in this dour match.

City's Kenny Myers radiated class in defence with keen passes and sure touch but although they played better football they couldn't convert their chances.

Linighan's own goal was very unfortunate, a cross into the box rebounding off his knee past the debutante keeper, and although the home side tried to scramble their way back they looked unlikely to score.

Thornley was forced to make a top class save to deny a Chris Newton attempt and with Mayers marshalling the defence a breach looked unlikely.

City thought they had done enough when up popped Linighan to power a header into the net.

With seconds on the clock the big defender somehow managed to hook the ball off his own goal line to stop a late assault by Myers.

It was his day and the points were shared.

Team: Thornley, Sparrow, Graham, Clitheroe, Kilbane, Mayers, Martin, Butler, Ward (Brown) Welch (Dickenson) Potts (Haddow)