MIKE Symons scored twice as Worcester City came from three goals down to snatch a stunning point against nine-man Guiseley at Nethermoor Park.

City looked beaten in West Yorkshire, trailing 2-0 at half-time and conceding a third seconds after Danny Boshell had been shown a second yellow card.

But Symons gave them a lifeline before being hacked down in the penalty area by Guiseley skipper Mark Bower, reducing the hosts to nine men.

Tom Thorley’s spot-kick was saved by Steve Drench but City capitalised on their numerical advantage, reducing their arrears further through Greg Mills and then equalising via Symons’ second six minutes from time.

Such a scoreline, though, was unthinkable in the first-half as Guiseley demonstrated why they are among the Blue Square Bet North title favourites by putting Carl Heeley’s team to sword.

They were a threat every time they attacked and, for long periods, City couldn’t get the ball off them.

Worcester, however, should have taken the lead before Steve Kittrick’s side had broken the deadlock.

Mills struck a sweet shot that was well saved by Drench and the keeper was up quickly to block the rebound from Symons.

But two goals in as many minutes left City shell-shocked and put Guiseley firmly in the driving seat.

With 15 minutes gone, Andy Holdsworth met an incisive through-ball, whipped over a cross from the right and Josh Wilson planted the header beyond Glyn Thompson.

Barely 120 seconds later, City’s defending was again called into question as Holdsworth floated a free-kick to the back post and the ball was diverted in by Bower. Worcester had their best spell towards the end of the first-half, Thorley forcing a save out of Drench following a neat move involving Tyler Weir and Charlie Reece.

Worcester were offered a way back eight minutes into the second period when the hosts were reduced to 10 men following a second yellow card for Danny Boshell.

However, the extra man made little difference as two minutes later Lee Ayres squandered possession, Holdsworth delivered a cross from the right and Nicky Boshell powered a header past Thompson.

Symons, however, gave Worcester hope in the 64th minute, crashing a speculative 25-yard drive in off the post.

The visitors were spurred on even more seven minutes later when Guiseley skipper Bower fouled Symons in the box and was shown a straight red card.

Thorley’s poor spot-kick was saved by Drench but, in the 74th minute, Mills cut in from the left and drilled a shot past the keeper to set-up a frantic finale.

City laid siege to the Guiseley goal and drew level when Reece took the ball round the advancing Drench and squared it for Symons to salvage a point.

City: Thompson 7, Weir 7, Edwards 6 (Deeney 63, 7), Thorley 7, Rowe 7, Ayres 6, Reece 7, Elvins 7, Symons 9*, Breeze 6 (Meechan 58, 7), Mills 8. Subs not used: Hulbert, Polan, Sargeant. Attendance: 424.