SUBSTITUTE Ethan Moore scored an injury-time penalty to salvage a dramatic draw for Worcester City against Gainsborough at Aggborough.

With City seemingly heading for their third home defeat of the campaign, Moore was bundled over by Trinity’s Dan Clayton and then dusted himself off to convert from 12 yards.

City might even have had another penalty seconds later when sub Aaron Williams was sent sprawling to the turf by keeper Phil Barnes but referee Martin Dexter waved the vociferous appeals away.

It was Worcester’s second equaliser of the contest but despite rescuing a valuable point, they remain winless after eight games of the Skrill North campaign.The match was also watched by just 347 fans, one of the lowest gates for a City league match in many a year.

Worcester, who gave a debut to new midfield signing Phil Trainer, on loan from Nuneaton, played the better football in the early stages and controlled possession on a slippery surface. Yet, despite their approach work, Barnes was untroubled.

Trinity were second best but Conner Richardson almost took advantage of Ellis Deeney’s poor clearance, firing wide from the edge of the box.

City probed and moved the ball from flank to flank as they sought to pierce the Trinity rearguard.

But, as has so often been the case this term, the hosts were the victims of their own downfall.

Faced with an innocuous threat, City had several chances to clear their lines but Exodus Geohaghon tied himself in knots attempting some ball juggling and gifted it to Robinson who fed Rhys Oates for a tap in.

All their good work ruined, Worcester upped the pace again and both Danny Glover and Nathan Rooney, with a free-kick, stung the palms of Barnes.

The second-half took a while to get going but it came alive in the 54th minute when Carl Heeley’s side drew level. Tom Thorley whipped in a corner from the left and the towering Geohaghon met it to glance the ball past Barnes.

The former Peterborough centre-half almost repeated the feat moments later, this time heading Thorley’s flag kick against the bar. But no sooner had City got a foothold in the game, the visitors regained the initiative. It owed much to the work of Robinson down the left as he was allowed to shrug off several challenges to squirm his way into the box before setting up Oates for his second.

From there, it looked as though Gainsborough would secure a second win in four days until the late drama.

Moore had only been on the pitch for 15 minutes when he burst into the box and was stopped in his tracks by Clayton.

Trinity protested but referee Dexter pointed to the spot and Moore made sure City earned their fourth point of the season.

City: Veiga 6, Smith 7, Deeney 7*, Thorley 7, Hutchison 7, Geohaghon 7, Trainer 7, Taundry 7 (A Williams 66), Nti 6, Rooney 6, (D Williams 59, 6), Glover 6 (Moore 79). Subs not used: Walker, Sargeant.

Attendance: 347.